By Suzan Edeh, Bauchi
The First Lady of Bauchi State, Hajiya Aisha Bala Mohammed, has issued a fresh call to action for families, traditional rulers, and the media to intensify the fight against gender-based violence (GBV) and bolster support systems for survivors.
Speaking during a media chat at her office in Bauchi, the First Lady who serves as the Chairperson of the Bauchi State Action Committee on GBV emphasized that grassroots involvement is the only way to ensure lasting justice.
“This interaction is vital to enlightening the public on the hurdles victims face, particularly constitutional and procedural delays in the justice system”.
“Today’s engagement is aimed about informing the general public on the critical role the committee has played in addressing issues of gender-based violence across the state in the area of protecting vulnerable persons, promoting justice, support and survival.
“This interaction will provide the opportunity to enlighten the public on some of the challenges encountered by the committee in the cause of seeking justice for victims of gender based violence, particularly in the delay with the judiciary process arising from certain constitutional constraints and legal procedures.
“As the Chairperson of this important committee, I deeply appreciate continous partnership, professionalism and commitment in resolving issues that affect our society.Your role in public enlightenment and advocacy remain invaluable in the collective fight against gender-based violence”.
“Further more, I would like to emphasize the importance of community involvement in our work.The committee recognize that meaningful change requires the active participation of families, community leaders, local organisations and more importantly, the media” She said.
Hajiya Aisha lauded the collaborative efforts of security agencies, traditional leaders, and journalists, describing the media’s role in advocacy as invaluable.
She further announced that the committee will launch a series of outreach and sensitization campaigns across the state in the coming months to prevent cases of gender-based violence from escalating.
Providing a technical breakdown of the committee’s operations, Hajiya Sha’awanatu Yusuf, Special Adviser to the Governor on GBV, noted that the body has expanded its reach to all 20 Local Government Areas.
She said that the membership of the committee includes representatives from the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Women Affairs, the police, the National Human Rights Commission, traditional and religious leaders, and civil society groups.
The four subcommittees and their roles are to ensure prevention by sensitizing communities on GBV and share contact numbers for reporting cases, protection by reaching out to survivors after a case is confirmed to provide assistance, Prosecution, by reviewing reported cases with police, lawyers, and medical personnel, and pursue action where evidence exists, as well as collaboration and partnership by working with NGOs to mobilize support.
Sha’awanatu said the committee has made a lot of achievements since inception, and complainants submit written reports, after which all parties are invited to a hearing for fair resolution.
Yusuf highlighted that the committee follows a structured resolution process where complainants submit written reports followed by a formal hearing to ensure a fair outcome for all parties.
Since its inauguration in April 2020, the committee—which includes representatives from the Ministry of Justice, the police, and civil societyhas transitioned into four specialized subcommittees:
The committee remains a cornerstone of the state government’s strategy to tackle the rising tide of sexual and gender-based violence in the region.
