Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi
The Bauchi State Ministry of Justice has charged college students in tertiary establishments to discountenance the custom of silence and report all situations of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) on their campuses.
The cost was delivered by the Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Sabiu Adamu Gumba, throughout a one-day sensitization marketing campaign held on the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi.
The occasion was organised by the ministry, in collaboration with ATBU’s Faculty of Environmental Technology and supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
The marketing campaign targeted on educating the college group in regards to the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law and different authorized frameworks defending residents from campus-based violence.
Gumba, who was represented by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), clarified that whereas the ministry is absolutely dedicated to eradicating GBV, it should additionally uphold constitutional rights.
He emphasised that the ministry will proceed to defend the human rights of everybody concerned together with the accused – till they’re confirmed responsible by a court docket of competent jurisdiction.
“The VAPP law was passed in 2022 to cover specific offenses including intimidation, assault, rape, and cybercrime, which severely impact women, children, and vulnerable groups.These offenses attract severe punishments when a suspect is found guilty” Gumba acknowledged.
He admonished college students towards buying and selling intercourse for grades, private favors, or due to intimidation, noting that silence solely emboldens perpetrators.
“We are here to advise you, the management, and both academic and non-academic staff to speak up whenever an incident occurs. Your silence does not protect the offender; it encourages them. Speak out and expose them to protect yourselves and other innocent people,” the Solicitor General added.
Welcoming the initiative, the Dean of the Faculty of Environmental Technology, Prof. Adamu Babayo, admitted that conversations round GBV have uncovered deep-seated points concerning dangerous actions and gender norms throughout the establishment.
“We realized that we have been propagating issues amongst ourselves as staff and students without fully understanding the legal consequences of our actions,” Prof. Babayo mentioned.
To maximize the affect of the coaching, the college chosen two pupil representatives per division throughout 100 to 500 degree alongside school employees.
Babayo expressed optimism that the individuals would act as ambassadors to cascade the anti-GBV message to their friends and houses, reminding attendees that GBV is a cross-cutting problem.
“Gender-based violence goes both ways. Do not assume that because it is labeled ‘gender,’ only females are affected. Male partners can also be victims,” he acknowledged.
Civil society additionally joined the decision for absolute transparency. Speaking on the occasion, the Executive Director of the Journalists for Public Health and Development Initiative (J4PD), Elizabeth Carr, warned towards masking up abuses.
Represented by Bulak Afsa, Carr promised that journalists throughout the state will deploy skilled reporting to expose campus GBV, defend the dignity of victims, and create a strong deterrent towards offenders.
The programme additionally acquired goodwill messages from the state Ministry of Budget, Economic Planning and Multilateral Coordination, in addition to the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. Both ministries lauded the well timed sensitization drive, describing it as a serious milestone in cleaning tertiary establishments of gender-sensitive violations.
