By Aluta News
Oct. 13, 2021
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), on Wednesday in Niger, inaugurated campaign against Gender Based Violence (GBV) in communities.
The NYSC Director General, Brig.-Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim, inaugurated the first phase of the Grassroots Gender Sensitisation and Advocacy Campaign in Maikunkele community of Bosso Local Government Area of the state.
Ibrahim, who was represented by Mrs Funmilayo Ajayi, the NYSC Coordinator in Niger, explained that the campaign was an initiative of the Reforms Unit of NYSC, implemented on the platform of Corps Gender Vanguards.
He said the aim of the campaign was to expose the ills of GBV, adding that GBV was not only about physical and psychological harm, but constituted abuse of fundamental rights of the victim.
“Consequently, all hand must be on deck to fight this menace ravaging the society, especially among rural dwellers as gender issues include matters of interest to both sexes.’’
The director general appealed to members of communities, religious institutions, heads of schools, parents and other stakeholders to support, protect and sensitise the people on
gender matters.
He said the Corps Gender Vanguards helped in formation of gender clubs in schools and provide linkages to victims of gender abuse through the GBV toll line — 08031230651,
provided by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs.
The District Head of Maikunkele, Alhaji Suleiman Dada, said the sensitisation campaign was timely due to increased cases of GBV in the society.
He gave the assurance that the community would support the campaign through sensitisation and report cases of GBV.
Mrs Christy Barau, the Chairperson, Federation of International Women Lawyers in Niger, said that the association would support the campaign to fight against GBV in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the sensitisation had in attendance, religious and traditional leaders, students from various schools and local government
officials.
NAN