Gombe targets 45,000 women for empowerment to curb gender based violence.
Chima Azubuike
Gombe State government says joblessness, stigmatisation and lack of enabling laws are causes of increasing cases of gender-based violence in the state.
Wife of the governor, Asma’u Yahaya, however assured that aggressive empowerment and enactment of child right law would curb rape and general child abuses state wide.
Yahaya revealed this after a walk against gender-based violence on Monday, adding that effect of the global COVID-19 pandemic contributed hugely to rape and other abuses of children in the state.
According to her, the brazen stigmatisation of gender-based victims often discouraged victims or their parents from pursuing reported cases to conclusion.
While regretting that Gombe was one of the states yet to domesticate child rights law, she disclosed that the state government and her office have targeted 45,000 women for empowerment, stressing that a number of Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) are involved in the project.
“we are targeting to empower 45,000 women before end of this term,”
“Gombe is one of the states yet to domesticate child rights law but I was just being told that the state House of Assembly has started considering it for discussion and eventual passage.
“If passed into law, would protect our women and children. I urge the Assembly and other actors to increase efforts to domesticate the child rights law,” she said.
On her part, the commissioner for women affairs and social development, Naomi Awak enjoined men to be active campaigners of the war against violence on women and children.
Awak stated, “violence against women is barbaric and suicidal.”
Meanwhile, Coordinator, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Gombe state, Shamusideen Garuba who was represented by the Public Relations Officer Ali Nola complained about the growing cases of abuse in the state.
He said, “our office records high cases of gender-based violence especially against women, girls and children.”
