By Stephen Adeleye.
The National Human Rights Commission, Kogi State office, has embarked on school sensitisation campaign aim to educate students against Gender Based Violence (GBV) in the state.
The campaign was in collaboration with Office of Kogi Governor’s wife, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and others, to mark the “16 Days of Activism to end Violence against Women and Girls 2024”.
Speaking at Muslim Community School, Lokoja, on Monday, Barr. Mohammed Nuhu, the State Coordinator of NHRC, said the campaign was to educate students and mobilize action to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls.
According to him, the 16 Days of Activism to End Violence Against Women and Girls is an international campaign that takes place annually from November 25 to December 10.
Nuhu stressed that the commission is raising awareness about the prevalence and impact of violence against women and girls, stressing the need to promote policies and laws that protect women’s and girls’ rights.
He added that the campaign was also geared towards putting an end to bullying in schools and to bring GBV to the barest minimum.
Nuhu disclosed that the NHRC Kogi State office have handled approximately over 100 GBV cases in 2024 across the state.
“This awareness is geared towards bringing an end to GBV in our society. Very soon we shall embark on road show in collaboration with other stakeholders.
“We have handled over 100 cases on GBV in Kogi. We have done reconciliation and mediation, and those ones that needed persecution were referred to the State Attorney General.
“So, we urge the students to spread the message to their colleagues and parents as well as the general public on the need to end GBV,”Nuhu said.
Also speaking, Barr. Joy Akinola, President of Concerned Youth and Teens Forum, said the event was to get young people involved in the fight against GBV especially in schools.
She noted that this year’s theme: “Unite To End Violence Against Women and Girls”, was to draw attention to the alarming escalation of violence against women and girls, and revitalize commitments, call for accountability, and action from decision-makers.
“So, as part of our prevention mechanism, today, we inaugurated GBV club at Muslim Community Secondary School as GBV Ambassadors.
“We already identified two students per class, a male and female that are well behaved, and we are going to train them on GBV.
“Our collaboration with NHRC is geared towards uniting all the stakeholders together to jointly tackle the issue of GBV and say no to violence against women and girls,” Akinola said.
She explained that the GBV Ambassadors would help to checkmating and escalating any GBV issue in their various classes and schools so as to help victims of GBV to get justice.
Some selected students were decorated and inaugurated as GBV Ambassadors
Two students: Jumai Umar and Kemi Johnson, commended the NHRC and other stakeholders for the initiative and promised to join in the fight against GBV in their schools and at home.
