Gender-based Violence: Taraba Foundation Targets 185,180 For Intervention
Emmanuel Awari-Jalingo
The Wife of the Taraba State Governor, Barr. Anna Darius Ishaku says the Hope Afresh Foundation Taraba has recorded tremendous success in Gender-Based violence intervention within two years (2020-2022) in the state.
Mrs. Ishaku disclosed this at the 2nd town hall meeting organized by the Women in Media (WIM) Taraba State chapter and partners held at the NUT Secretariat in Jalingo on Friday.
She said within two years, the foundation had targeted 185,180 population to reach out to increase awareness of Gender-Based violence across the 16 LGAs of the state.
Represented by the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer of the Hope Afresh Foundation Taraba, Mrs. Sarah David Ibi, Anna explained that the awareness of the GBV and reportage cases has risen beyond target by 12,980 people.
“This shows that society is impacted by the get involved Campaign slogan of “If you see Something, say Something,” she added.
She also pointed out that out of the intended targeted population of 185,180, 198,160 were reached, i.e 52% has been achieved which is above the target.
According to her, the successes were recorded through a strategy of using (1+9 green card) by the Foundation.
Barr. Anna Darius Ishaku further revealed that the Hope Afresh foundation Taraba had also achieved its target of assisting twelve (12) survivors of Gender-Based violence (GBV) in the state.
Out of many achievements recorded by the foundation as she highlighted including sponsored Violence Against Person’s Discrimination Law which was passed into law by the Taraba State House of Assembly, the provision of the Sexual Assault Referral Center, the state GBV Financing Framework, the GBV Coordinating mechanism, and the ongoing renovation of proposed one shelter among others.
The wife of the governor commended the Women in Media (WIM) for the initiative and promised partnership to achieve the set goals.
The Taraba State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Child Development, Hon. Bridget Twar explained that most of the victims of Gender-Based violence are women, therefore, she urged them to rise and support the campaign to end the menace.
On his part, Taraba State Commissioner of Police, CP Abimbola Sokoya, one of the WIM’s major partners who described Taraba as one of the peaceful states in Nigeria said the police will not relent in carrying out their constitutional mandate of protecting the lives and properties of the citizens.
Sokoya who was represented by DSP Agatha Usman at the occasion revealed that even the women police do experience such kind of victimization which it is not being taken lightly by the force, and advised the women to always report cases of GBV like rape and other violence to the police, adding that there is a unit meant for such cases at all police stations as directed by the IGP to be established.
FIDA Taraba state Chairperson, Barr. Fyafa Hosea Ibi said the association has done a lot in sensitizing the people at various levels including worship places, and markets among others on the GBV across the state.
Barr. Ibi noted that FIDA is working closely with the police in ensuring that justice takes its cause on the perpetrators who pleaded guilty at the court of law, and advised women to build confidence in themselves by reporting cases of violence, especially rape.
The President of WIM, Taraba State, Mrs. Queen Kunde Enoch said that the town hall concept is a vehicle for change and a platform for discussions, noting that the idea was borne out of the fact that Women in Taraba State have been largely underrepresented in the political and governance pace of the state.
“As we currently have now in Nigeria, women, and youth in Taraba are only used as pawns for power bargain and ascendance by political power seekers,” she alleged.
According to her, the objectives were also geared towards setting agenda for the development of the state as well as the role of women in the political process.
Mrs. Queen Kunde Enoch, while appreciating appreciated members of WIM for their commitment, and all partners especially individuals with a philanthropic spirit who desired to see women development championed and their political voice heard, also implore the women to engage and contribute to the development of Taraba State by voting credible candidates comes 2023.
“This time around we extended our invitation to many political office seekers including all the Gubernatorial candidates in the state but to our dismay non of them show face, anyway, we the women will give them the answer come 2023, we don’t care about the political party anymore, we will go after a person’s credibility,”. Mrs. Enoch threaten.
The keynote address was delivered by the Chairman of the Taraba State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC), Dr. Phillip Duwe who was represented by the Secretary of the Commission who enlighten the gathering on the electoral processes and answered questions asked by some participants.
There were goodwill messages from the Taraba State Coordinator of NBC, representatives of INEC, and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) among others.
However, Hon. JJ Katabs, and Hon. Tanko Bobbo Andeme, an SDP House of Assembly candidate from Karim Lamido for the 2023 election, and the Press Secretary to the Wife of the Taraba State Governor were among those that graced the event.