By Ude Ogbonnaya Israel
Amnesty International Nigeria has engaged community leaders, legal practitioners, young women and other stakeholders in Bauchi State in a community outreach aimed at promoting women’s rights and improving access to justice for women and girls.
The outreach, tagged “Justice for Her,” was organised on Saturday at Mc Dallas Event Centre, Bauchi, as part of activities marking the International Women’s Day (IWD) 2026.
Speaking during the event, the Bauchi State Coordinator of the organising team, Amina Ishak Ibrahim, said the programme was designed to bring together men, women and young girls to celebrate women while also addressing the challenges they face in society.
She explained that the initiative aligns with the global theme for the 2026 International Women’s Day set by the United Nations: “Rights. Justice. Action. For All Women and Girls.”
She noted that the outreach created a platform for dialogue among traditional rulers, the media, civil society groups and community members to identify existing gaps and collectively find solutions that would ensure justice and equal treatment for women and girls.
The Amnesty International Bauchi State coordinator observed that one of the major issues affecting women in many communities is the lack of awareness about their rights.
“For many of the communities represented here today, this is their first time attending such an event. Many young girls are hearing about their rights for the first time,” she said.
She added that such engagements are necessary to ensure that young girls and women gain access to critical information that can help them seek justice when their rights are violated.
Also speaking, Hamza Ishaya , a legal practitioner in Bauchi identified discrimination as one of the major challenges facing women in Bauchi in particular and Nigeria by extension
“As far as I am concerned, the number one issue women face is discrimination,” he said.
According to him, discrimination manifests in various aspects of life including the workplace, politics and everyday social interactions where women are often denied opportunities and privileges.
He stressed that the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria guarantees fundamental rights to every citizen regardless of gender, religion or status.
“The constitution, particularly Section 42, prohibits discrimination against any person on the basis of sex,” the lawyer said.
He further highlighted existing legal frameworks designed to protect women from violence and abuse, including the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015 and the Child Rights Act 2003.
“These laws emphasise the protection of women and girls, particularly from gender-based violence,” he explained.
Isayashi added that enlightenment and education remain critical tools in addressing rights violations.
A traditional ruler from Yelwa community in Bauchi, Murtala Ibrahim, also known as Sarkin Yelwa Makaranta, emphasised the important role of traditional institutions in protecting women.
He said traditional leaders have a responsibility to ensure that women are treated with dignity and respect within their communities adding that women often face marginalisation and are sometimes relegated to the background despite their critical contributions to family and society.
Participants at the outreach expressed optimism that continued engagement among community leaders, civil society groups and legal experts would help strengthen advocacy efforts aimed at protecting the rights of women and girls in Bauchi State.
The organisers also encouraged stakeholders to continue promoting awareness and creating safe channels for reporting rights violations, noting that many victims often remain silent because they do not know where to seek help which is part of my they are gathered.
Participants at the training
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