FOMWAN Intensifies Campaign On Gender Based Violence
Zainab Tanimu
Kaduna, Northwest Nigeria
The Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN) has intensified sensitization campaign on gender based violence.
While calling on all hands to be on deck towards stamping out this menace, it said it will continue to strive towards the actualization of this goal.
This was disclosed during a lecture organised in Kaduna.
Speaking shortly after the sensitization programme, the Kaduna State Amira of FOMWAN, Pharm. Aisha Isyaku Tukur while fielding questions from journalists
informed that the association will continue to add it’s voice in eradicating the menace.
As parents we are here to support the our youth who are the organizers if this programme to achieve this goal. She said.
“This is a lecture that we have started and hope to continue because of the gravity of the issue at stake.
According to the Amiral, to eradicate this menace in our society, government would have to ensure that when people are caught the right measures are taken against the culprits because you find that parents sometimes don’t want to report because of the bureaucracy in reporting.
It is easy for parents to report she said but you find that, “when you report to the police station or other law enforcement agencies, actually nothing is done except you know somebody or you have somebody that can follow it up for you.
“So, l think basically for the government that is what we require from them”.
Pharm. Aisha also called on the government to support Non – Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in their awareness campaign programmes against gender based violence as that will go a long way in helping to curb the menace in our society.
Adding that gender base violence is very much rampant in the society and therefore drastic measures need to be taken.
” The NGOs are doing a lot of awareness and so the government should also support it and then ofcourse let’s have a very good learning environment for our children. She stressed.
Also speaking, one of the facilitators partnering with FOMWAN, Dr. Maryam Ahmed Jallo who spoke on forms of gender based violence urged people to speak up on the issue.
According to her, there is financial violence, physical violence, sexual violence and even verbal violence.
In whichever victim finds oneself, it is important to speak out.
It is only when we speak out and cases are reported that actions can be taken. She encouraged.
“We should try as much as possible to avoid gender based violence and when it happens, we should talk about it.
Do not keep quiet. When you are experiencing gender based violence no matter the type, is it financial, physical, sexual or verbal, talk about it.
“By talking about it, you have reduced the power that you give that person. That person that abused you would have lesser chance of abusing someone else because people know about it.
“So as much as possible, l urge you people to talk about it. Don’t just talk to one person because you never know who will help spread it. But if you tell many people there is no tendency of you being called a liar because if one person hides it, another will help spread it. She said.
In her words of advice, she urged on people to be patience over things.
“Be patient with what you have. Maybe you are looking for something and you don’t have, be patient with yourself for there could be reason for not having it.
In her own explanation, Youth Amira, FOMWAN Kaduna Branch, Hajiya Aisha Yakubu said, gender based violence is very prevelent amongst young ones.
The mandate by the national body to carry out sensitization campaign against the menace she said will be carried out to the letter. Already, the exercise has kick- started from the grassroot with a visit to one of the community secondary schools.
“We have come to spread the message of gender based violence, what gender based is , how to avoid it, how to protect yourself from being a victim and also perpetrator. We decided to start from the grassroot that is why we came to this community school. This school is actually a hope for the community itself.
“This sensitization campaign we believe will give the girls their voices to speak against gender based violence. She assured.
On the way forward and measures to be taken by the government in eradicating this problem, she has this to say.
“Gender Based violence is somehow pandemic so we need to see a lot of constitutions, we need to see a lot of convictions. People are being convicted for perpetrating gender based violence. hat will serve as a deterrent for people or anybody engaging or wanting to engage in gender based violence and that will actually give people that are victims back their voices because you know if you speak out, something is going to be done.
Religious leaders she considers very vital in the realization of this cause.
“Looking at our society in northern Nigeria, religion is deep rooted in our society and we listen a lot to our religious leaders. So l believe when our religious leaders champion the campaign, take it forward, sensitization will increase. Their participation will give it a lot of credibility because it is coming from an authority the community takes seriously.”
