Chima Azubuike, Gombe state.
The Executive Director of Care for Life, Mr Placidus Peters, has called for Domestication of child rights acts, Violence Against People Prohibition Act noting that Gombe state records 2 cases of rape happen every day, 12 cases every week and approximately 48 cases every month according to report.
Peters disclosed this on thursday at an event in Gombe to commemorate the 16 days of Activism under the Save the Children International (SCI), Reaching and Empowering Adolescents to make informed Choices about their Health (REACH) project in collaboration with Kishimi Shelter and Care Foundation. With the theme “Orange the World: Generation Equality Stands against Rape”.
He said, “Girls and women score disproportionately low on the Human Rights Achievement index. Violence against women and girls is one of the most widespread, persistent and destating human rights violations and is a threat to millions of girls and women at home, school and work.
“Report shows that at least 2 cases of rape happen every day, 12 cases every week and approximately 48 cases every month, and most of these cases go unreported; this is because of fear stigmatization”.
Peters added that the choice of orange symbolises a brighter future, freedom from violence “As it serves as a means of demonstrating solidarity in eliminating all forms of violence”.
Meanwhile the Executive Director of Kishimi Shelter and Care Foundation, Mrs Grace Samuel, thanked all the participants for supporting the campaign against Gender Based Violence and urged them to speedily report any observed cases of GBV to the Care For Life Mission, Kishimi Shelter and Care Foundation, the Nigeria Police, NSCDC or Child Protection Network. As ambassadors of Human Rights, she encouraged participants to protect the rights of the vulnerable especially children and women.
According to Oluchi Emmanuel, Gender Officer II Care for Life, the theme of this year 16 days of activism which is on gender based violence. “We can infer that women and children are more prone to gender based violence, there is need for the general public to bridge the gap of gender inequality in the lives of women and children” she said.
Other highlight of the commemoration of the 16 days of Activism, was the team work involving both adolescents and adults within the selected groups one -five. This further provided room for interaction as all groups defended their answers to their group work through two representations.