16 Days of Activism: Gombe WPS Network Holds Town Hall
By Chima Azubuike
The Gombe Women Peace and Security (WPS), Network on Saturday commemorated the 16 days of Activism with a call for more focus on resolving gender-based violence against women and girls.
This year’s theme Unite ! End violence against women and girls, clearly draws attention to the need to eliminate all forms of abuse against women.
Our Correspondent reports that the event which was in form of town hall had traditional and religious leaders in attendance. It was organised with support from UN Women and funded by the Government of Norway.
Speaking, Muhammad Umar Farouk, Focal Person, Women Peace and Security in an interview with journalists said the town hall was geared towards congratulating stakeholders on the successes recorded so far.
According to him, “In Gombe recently the governor domesticated Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act and the child protection law. It is a good development in this journey, we should have an institution charged towards making it work, it will make it go a long way.”
While harping on the essence of the 16 days of Activism, the Focal Person noted that GBV cases would be tackled with implementation of relevant laws.
“The commemoration of 16 days of Activism usually start from the 25th of November to 10th of December. It was set aside by the United Nations towards ending gender-based violence among women and girls and to the larger society. GBV is doesn’t only affect women and girls, it also affects generality of the human community, it can only be tackled when there are policies on ground, laws,” Farouk said.
On his part, Public Relations Officer of National Human Right Commission Gombe, Ali Alola-Alfinti, he explained that 10th of December marks the end of the 16 days of Activism, adding that it also commemorates Human right day.
According to him, “Human right is all about humanity and for the past 16 days we have been celebrating humanity, and successes as well as advocating for the right of all human beings.”
Alola-Alfinti, disclosed that previously the state had alot of human right violations, stressing that it has declined.
He said, “But with the constant awareness by all stakeholders we have started seeing the reduction. The Human Right Commission has been part of VAPP Alliance in Gombe State, we pushed for its domestication as well as Child Rights Act (Child Protection law) and the administration of justice system in the state and today these laws have seen the light because they are all existing the state.”
Also speaking, Chief Executive of Hope Foundation for the Lonely, Sarah Yapwa, urged for implementation of necessary laws protecting women and girls.
Yapwa, who also doubles as one of the lead mentors of WPS said, “When we look at the different types of violence, conflict taking place within the state to some extent the right of human beings particularly women and girls are being violated.”
She lauded the government for the assent of VAPP Act and the child protection law adding, “We want to say we are happy and we also congratulated ourselves because it has been signed we thank the government. However, the problem is not just about signing it into law because we have so many laws and policies that are not well implemented and enforced we are calling on the government and law enforcement agencies to ensure the implementation of the laws.”
Also, A traditional leader, Yaya Hamari, commended the State Government for providing enabling laws that would protect all especially women and girls.
Hamari, who doubles as Wazirin Yerima Gombe, disclosed that the traditional, religious leaders would sensitise community members on the recently assented laws, adding that there are differences between CRA and Child Protection law which has been domesticated in the state.
He said, “I want to thank the State Government for enacting and signing the laws but however, some people used to be very confused about the difference between Child Rights Act and Child Protection. People need to be sensitised about the difference between the two.
“In Gombe we sat with Christians and Muslims, that is Jamaaltu Nasrul Islam and Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), to go through all the pages and chapters when the copy of the CRA was received and extracted most of those things that are not relevant to our religion and culture and it was submitted more than three times to the government through Ministry of Justice to the House of Assembly.”
Commenting further the Elder Statesman added, “For child protection you are to protect that child. We shall start to mobilise our subjects from the grassroot, bottom top, to sensitise and educate them to understand the difference between the two. We shall talk to them on the need to protect the child from dangers as specified in the laws.”
On her part, Naomi Awak, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development who was represented by the Overseeing Permanent Secretary, Asabe Adamu Malami, lauded the support of the network, adding that more work would be required to ensure implementation of the recently assented laws.
Awak commended the State Governor Muhammadu Yahaya, for running a women friendly government, attributing the successes attained to the support of the governor, his wife; Asma’u Yahaya, members of the House of Assembly, as well as development partners.
