By ARMSTRONG ALLAHMAGANI, Bauchi-
A stakeholders meeting for the advancement of the rights of the woman had been held in Bauchi with the aim of ensuring that all forms of violence against women are reduced to the barest minimum.
The state stakeholder meeting was held at the Yimir Hotel, Bauchi and was attended by 30 stakeholders from various organisations, including the Ministry of Justice, Nigeria Police, Bauchi State Command, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Guidance and Counseling unit of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) , Bauchi State Committee on Gender Base Violence, FIDA, Representative of Hon Speaker of the State House of Assembly, National Orientation Agency (NOA) and NAWOJ.
Others were Social Welfare unit of Bauchi LGA, Local Education Authority, Ward Development Committee (WDC), National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Village / District Heads of Tirwun, Liman Katagum, Nabardo, Hakimi Bula, Change Agents, CAN, JNI, and many others.
Programme Coordinator of Bauchi sub-office of Women for Women International, Naomi Gokwat, in her opening remarks, expressed her gratitude to the stakeholders who attended the programme.
She also highlighted that the ‘stronger women, stronger nation women for women’s programmes goal of empowering women in Plateau, Kaduna, Bauchi, and Cross Rivers states, where it has helped women affected by war to reach their full potentials.
Na’omi Gokwat mentioned that the meeting resulted from a small grant given to one of the staff members to carry out a community impact project.
In her advocacy message delivered by Victoria Ayodele Fajinmi, she gave reasons for free space, which included protection for a violence-free space providing a shield against abuse, giving women and girls the protection they deserve.
On Empowerment, it encourages accessible, safe space, empowers survivors to rebuild their lives, pursue education and contribute to the community.
Another area is community Resilience which is by investing in violence–free spaces, to strengthen the resilience of the communities, fostering a culture of empathy, inclusion and equality.
In her call for action, she urged all the stakeholders and all compassionate individuals to join hands in advocating for increased access to violence-free spaces for women and girls in Bauchi communities.
She stressed that, “it is time to turn our collective vision into reality by: Raising Awareness, Spread the word about the importance of violence-free spaces. Ignite conversations that challenge societal norms and promote understanding.”
To also advocate for Policies, Support policies that allocate resources and establish frameworks for the creation of safe spaces for women and girls, ensuring sustained efforts in the fight against gender-based violence.
The programme is to also foster collaboration by uniting with local organisations, activists, and community members saying, “together we can create a network of support that transcends individual efforts.”
It is to also educate and empower by Providing education on gender equality, consent and the rights of women and girls stressing that Knowledge is a powerful tool for breaking the chains of violence.
The programme is to be a Voice by Speaking out against gender-based violence, encourage survivors to share their stories, fostering a culture of empathy, resilience, and solidarity.
Barrister Yachit Dala, Bauchi state coordinator of the National Human Rights Commission, delivered a paper on Legal Empowerment and Awareness creation that focused on supporting women legally and grassroots women become aware of policies and documents to regulate their fundamental human rights.
The session was interactive as it presented various policies and documents that the bill has passed.
Mal Usman Sulaiman and Bishop Isaac Crown also presented papers on community initiatives to create violence-free spaces for women and girls and to involve men and boys in supporting women and girls at the grassroots level. The meeting was interactive and fruitful as it addressed significant issues.
Community Impact project is a small grant funded by Atlas Corps through Women for Women International. The support grant was given to Victoria Ayodele Fajinmi after she acquired a distinction from a six-month online leadership learning training programme with the Hilton Humanitarian Prize Laureate Virtual Leadership Institute empowered by Atlas Corps.
The training covered over 100 hours of interactive workshops, self-paced assignments, group discussions, and community-building activities with renowned organisations and leaders.
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