As part of activities to mark the end of this year’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), Plan International Nigeria, under its ASPIRE’s Canada funded Project has organised a panel discussion for adolescent girls in Bauchi.
This is in collaboration with the state Ministry of Women Affairs, Social and Child Development, in partnership with the Association of Women Journalists Bauchi State Chapter.
Speaking at the occasion, the Head of Social Development Programmes Plan International Nigeria Mr Laban Onisimus said, the organisation is working to transform harmful practices at multiple levels and empower girls to speak out on violence against them.
He said the organisation also listen to girls’ experiences of violence and their solutions, engage leaders at all levels in the fight against violence, as well as boys and young men to become agents of change.
Mr. Laban, therefore, said, Plan International advocates for girls and young women to be at the centre of efforts to eradicate GBV as part of a commitment to a gender transformative approach.
On her part, the chairperson Association of Women Journalists Bauchi Chapter Mrs Rashida Yusuf said that as watchdogs of the society, the body deemed the collaboration necessary in order to strengthen the call to end violence against women and girls.
According to her, this will go a long way in ensuring that girls will rise and speak up to all forms of violence against them, threby returning sanity in their communities and the world at large.
“Girls should speak out against gender based violence in their community, be it rape, sexual molestation of intimidation, because women are not punching bags but rather men should love and protect us”.
16 days of activism, a global initiative aimed at eliminating gender based violence by raising awareness about the devastating impact of violence against women and girls.
