Gombe considers empowering 45,000 women to check gender- based violence

GOMBE Government has identified joblessness, stigmatisation and lack of enabling laws as some of the factors behind rising cases of gender- based violence in the state.

Wife of the governor, Hajia Asima’u Inuwa Yahaya, pointed out that empowerment and domestication of the Child Rights Act would check rape and child abuse in Gombe.

Briefing newsmen in her office in the capital shortly after a walk against genderbased violence that took her round the metropolis yesterday, Hajia Yahaya lamented that the COVID- 19 pandemic also contributed largely to harassment of kids in the state.

According to her, the economic implication of the sit- at- home and other restrictions exposed many women to randy males.

She added that stigmatisation had discouraged victims from reporting incidents to the appropriate authorities for action.

The Gombe First Lady said the state government and her office had pencilled down 45,000 women for empowerment.

Her words: “We are targeting to empower 45,000 women before the end of this term. A number of non- governmental organisations ( NGOS) are involved in the project.”

She regretted that Gombe was one of the states yet to give vent to the Child Rights Act, adding: “I was just being told that the House of Assembly has started considering it for debate and eventual passage.”

“If passed into law, it would protect our women and children. I urge the Assembly and other actors to increase efforts to domesticate the child rights law,” the governor’s wife pleaded.

In her remarks, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Naomi Awak, urged men to be active campaigners in the war against molestation of women and children.

“Violence against women and girls is barbaric and suicidal,” she stated.

Toeing same line of thought, Public Relations Officer, National Human Rights Commission ( NHRC) in Gombe, Ali Nola, who stood in for his coordinator, Shamusideen Garuba, noted: “Our office records high cases of gender- based violence, especially against women, girls and children.”