UNESCO, Japan Govt partner Gombe, two others in tackling SGBV
Chima Azubuike, Gombe
No fewer than 690 direct and 9,000 indirect beneficiaries would benefit from Empowerment of Women and Girls in marginalized communities for better well-being through education and advocacy in 15 community-based platforms created to address Sexual and gender- based violence (SGBV).
The main beneficiaries of the project are women and girls in marginalized communities who have been hard hit with GBV due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Bauchi, Delta and Gombe States.
Implemented by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), with support from Japan Government.
Speaking on Tuesday, during the virtual project launch, Dimitri Sanga, officer-in-charge of UNESCO, Abuja Regional Office said the project would enable the beneficiaries to become responsible citizens with access to right information, thereby making them resilient to any form of abuse or manipulation, including radicalization and violent extremism, and to mobilize critical thinking to prevent violent extremism.
Sanga said, “This initiative undeniably promises to yield an optimal improvement with multiple positive outcomes in the long term to the wellbeing of women and girls and at the same time promote alliances among organizations that might not normally work together, thereby targeting consistency, which is critical for progress.
“UNESCO cherishes this partnership because it offers another medium to address failures, weaknesses as well as crucial social challenges. Without doubt, the collaboration with the Government of Japan will help us move towards a more just and healthy society to actualize the 2030 Agenda which through this intervention hinges mainly on SDG 1: Reducing Inequality; SDG 3: Health and Well-being; SDG 4: Quality Education; SDG 5: Gender Equality; and SDG 16: Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies.
“The Japan-UNESCO project aims to create awareness on strategies for addressing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and provide training on preventive measures to women and girls through second chance education and advocacy. In addition, the project will ensure increased awareness on gender-based violence among young women facing intersecting marginalization and provide psychosocial rehabilitation in support of the long-term recovery of women and girl survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).”
Also, Shinozawa Takayuki, Chargé d’ Affaires of the Embassy of Japan in Nigeria said the importance of education can not be over emphasized, adding that the government of Japan is happy to contribute to the socio-economic development of Nigerian States.
“As you know education is the tool to take communities out of poverty; through enlightenment and empowerment.
“In this context, I’m concerned about recent violent kidnapping of school children in North West Nigeria,” Takayuki said.
He added that the Lockdown which was a result of Covid-19 had exposed alot of women to Sexual gender based violence.
On his part, Gombe State Commissioner for Information, Julius Ishaya, lauded the UNESCO-Japan initiative, expressing optimism about the readiness of the state for the takeoff.
Ishaya said, “Already there are structures on ground to support whatever you are bringing. Our Government is a partner friendly one, we are open to work together with yours as far as it is in the interest of the people.”
He revealed that the state is not only battling with the effect of Covid-19 but the effect of insurgency.
“Gombe state close to the epicentre of the crisis has been bearing alot of burden that affects especially women and girls,” Ishaya added.
