By: Monday Danladi, Bauchi
The United Nations Population Fund, (UNFPA), has declared that addressing gender-based violence is critical to all its interventions as well as strategic in achieving three transformative agenda, which gender-based violence is among.
The declaration was was made on Wednesday by Deborah Tabara, Gender and Reproductive Health Analyst and Coordinator, UNFPA Bauchi, during a one-day sensitization campaign on the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) VAPP Law and other relevant legislation held at Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic, ATAP, Bauchi.
According to her, “Gender-based violence is a violation of the fundamental human rights of every person, as long as you’re a human being, whether you’re a girl, you’re a boy, you’re a woman, you’re a man. Gender-based violence has devastating effect, whether it is happening in the public space or in the private space, and its effects transcend from person, individuals, to family, to the community, to institutions.”
She stressed that,”When there are issues of gender-based violence in our institution here, it’s not interesting. Nobody wants to be associated with it. It impedes development. Because if a man or a woman is associated with gender-based violence, there is no advancement. People withdraw, and we do not want that.”
She then urged students and institutions to adopt zero tolerance for gender-based violence, saying abuse undermines development and violates fundamental human rights.
Deborah Tabara further said that UNFPA’s mandate places young people at the centre of development. “We are the reproductive health arm of the United Nations. Our mission is to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every child is safe, and every young person achieves their potential,”
She announced a new partnership between UNFPA, the Ministry of Justice and ATAP to entrench accountability on campus and declared a zero-tolerance stance and urged reporting.
“Tolerance for gender-based violence must be zero. Everyone has a responsibility to ensure it does not occur, between students, lecturers, or both,” she said.
According to her, “One rape plus silence equals multiple rapes. When there is no deterrence, the perpetrator continues. But when we speak up, GBV can be addressed.”
Speaking earlier, Gender Desk Officer at the Ministry of Justice, Barr Maimuna Ibrahim Yusuf, urged all tertiary institutions in the state to establish functional gender desks and grievance committees.
She said the objective was to educate students and staff on what constitutes GBV, its legal implications, and to strengthen reporting channels.
The workshop drew students, faculty, counselors and security officials. The Ministry of Justice said it will continue working with school managements to ensure gender desks are accessible, while partners including J4PD said they will work with health stakeholders, journalists and community groups to drive awareness and early action on GBV prevention in the coming months.
Group photograph of the participants at the sensitization campaign on GBV
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