By: Valentine Adese (JP),
Women, Girls, Faith and Cultural Leaders in Mazah Community in Jos North Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau State, have resolved to join their voice as a Community to the global campaign against Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
They have also resolved to be the Change Agents in the Community.
They made this resolve at Mazah during the Annual International 16 Days of Activism which was held in the premises of Mr. & Mrs. John B. Musa Ashur in Mazah Community, supported by Ford Foundation.
You would recall that this event is an annual international campaign that kicks off on November 25th, which also doubles as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until December 10th, Human Rights Day.
It is of note also that, the Activists started it at the inaugural Women’s Global Leadership Institute in 1991 and continues to be coordinated each year by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership. Individuals and organizations around the world calling for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls use it as an organizing strategy.
Earlier, before close to 60 participants at the program made the resolutions, in her opening remarks, the State Focal Person, Jummai Madaki, told the gathering that the Rights of women and girls are human rights, that there is a need to invest in women and girls for there to be a balanced society for holistic development
Jummai encouraged Faith and Culture Leaders to stand against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) by making their institutions safe spaces while calling for the inclusion of Women in the Traditional Council, especially in the Mazah Community.
The State Focal Person, Jummai Madaki, also advocated for a Coalition against GBV for a formidable referral path, as she encouraged survivors to speak out to facilitate the punishment of offenders
She said, “The VAPP Law is functional in all Police Divisions. VAPP Copies would be made available to the community.
“WRAPA is ready to partner with Mazah Women Association and other groups in the community for GBV free community”.
According to the Focal Person, the objectives of the program in Mazah is:-
- To create awareness and sensitization, join the voices of the community in the global campaign on GBV elimination, especially intimate partner violence (IPV), which is most prevalent in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) communities.
- To reinforce the existing VAWG safeguard mechanisms (WoR & Male Champions).
- To deepen the commitment to elimination of IPV in communities
- To increase organic Community led safe spaces for EVAWG in communities and,
- To strengthen GBV referral within community grassroots structures.
Responding to the remarks of the Focal Person and adding her voice to the campaign, Madam RUTH ABWO (WOR) advised parents in the community to minimize child trafficking, she called on the leaders of Culture and Faith to discourage parents from releasing their wards to unknown persons under whatever guise and that, if such cases of trafficking arise it should be reported to WRAPA for quick intervention and subsequent action.
She also took time to remind them of the Child Rights Law in Plateau State.
The Youths representative in the program, Mr. John Shamang in his contribution appreciated WRAPA. He said the sensitization has strengthened him and other youths to continue the sensitization on GBV. He promised to immediately contact other Executives of Youth Organizations on how to do a step-down and come up with a structure that would help plan, implement, and sustain the campaign.
On his part, the representative of the DISTRICT HEAD, Chief Daniel Umaru, promised to collaborate with WRAPA by giving immediate feedback at the next Traditional Council meeting coming up on Monday, 11/12/23, where all the District Heads would be briefed and they would then come up with a collective action plan.
He said, “The implementation of the action plan will be carefully monitored by WRAPA community volunteer, Mrs. Yanat John.
For the representative of the WIVES OF DISTRICT HEADS, Talatu Bala Haruna, who also happens to be a Captain of the Christian girls/young ladies/women group popularly known as Girls Brigade where diverse cases are being reported at various levels of GBV, testified that, WRAPA is the first organization to invited the Wives of the District Heads for inclusion in the fight against GBV.
She immediately took an Oath to be a WRAPA “Community Volunteer” from that moment and also to commence an immediate stepping down to other women units of Anaguta Nation.
She committed herself to standing up for women and girls by advocating for the creation of safe spaces in the palaces and also for the inclusion of women in the Traditional Council.
Adding that “The wives of traditional rulers will form a coalition to effectively check on GBV in our communities”.
Speaking for the Leaders of Faith, REV. LEMUEL GIZO, stressed the need to take the advocacy to churches and other faith institutions while requesting that WRAPA should give them, copies of the VAPP Law.
He said, “Church leadership will work out a step down in various subgroups in the church and we request WRAPA to be part of the step-down.
“The church would be available all the time to attend to GBV issues and make referrals to WRAPA as the need arises.
“The church can effectively stand in for victims knowing that the police and other agencies can give the desired support”.
At the end of the program, a declaration to form a community observatory Committee against GBV and to organize activities against GBV was made owing to the enormous effect of the awareness.
SEE SOME PICTURES FROM THE EVENT BELLOW:-
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