Orange the world: Group takes 16 days activism campaign to Gombe secondary school
Chima Azubuike
Kishimi Shelter and Care Foundation on Thursday, collaborated with Lanizewill Foundation for Empowerment and Human Development in the elimination of violence in Gombe State.
This is in commemoration of the 16 days activism against Gender-Based Violence held at Bethany College.
However, 2021 celebration is with the theme Orange the world: End violence against women now! The commemoration is between 25th November and 10th December to campaign for the elimination of all types of violence.
Recall that Gombe is among states yet to domesticate the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act, which would aid prosecution of violence cases in the state.
According to the Executive Director Kishimi Shelter and Care Foundation Grace Samuel, this is part of effort by her organisation to sensitize residents especially school children on the importance of right.
She noted that it is imperative to educate, and enlighten people on the basic of violence, adding that it is a step away from it elimination.
Samuel said, “We decided to observe the day to sensitize, mobilize people to be part of those that will contribute towards ending violence against women and girls in our in our communities.
“For the students here in Bethany, one of the things that affect our students is that they don’t have enough knowledge, particularly in the area of violence sometimes when it happens they don’t know who to report to.
“So they keep quiet, they don’t say anything to anyone that is why we felt that if we want to end violence let the survivors or possible victims be enlightened. So that if anything happens they will cry out, so that perpetrators will be punished.”
While urging the State Government to ensure the domestication of necessary instrument for the protection of children and women, Samuel added, “We heard Sokoto State just signed their Child Rights Act, we want Gombe to join the progressive states by also passing their own bill.”
Also speaking, Benedicta Olaniyan, Executive Director of Lanizewill Foundation for Empowerment and Human Development noted that the essence of the collaboration is to eliminate increasing violence within the communities.
“We want to spread the news on the need to stop violence against women now. The only way we can do that is by educating even the younger ones to understand what violence is and how people have been abused so that we can prevent it from happening. More so, they are the growing generation they can spread it to other people,”Olaniyan said.
She enumerated so other enlightenment measures to include; bills, banner which would be used to educate a greater audience on the dangers of violence to the society.
Olaniyan added, “So that people will know what violence is and who is being abused. One of the things we hope to stand against is to end undue stigmatization of children who have been violated. So that they can be part of the society and not be stigmatized or left alone that will bring victims sorrow, loneliness, if care is not taken they may attempt suicide.”
