By Amina Ahmed
Bauchi – Some Chief Magistrates in Bauchi State have called on stakeholders to adopt mentoring, counselling and equity among spouses and youths to end Gender Violence (GV).
The magistrates made the appeal during an interactive session on GV activism with NGOs and Civil society Organisations (CSOs) on Thursday in Bauchi.
Speaking, the Chief Magistrate of Court 11, Mrs Shafa’u Ladan, said that counselling of spouses from early stage of marriage would reduce the menace of GV in the society.
According to her, young spouses go into marriages without having the basic knowledge and proper guidance on martial life.
She encouraged stakeholders and elders in the society to listen and encourage spouses to open up during difficult times to address issues at the appropriate time.
“It is not that women are seeking for gender equality but equity, so that in our homes all the children will be taught to love each other, do house chaos whether a boy or girl, as they grow, he will protect his sister, love, learn to respect and help her at all the time.
“That relationship and ties between siblings will make him not to hurt his wife or her hurting her husband,” she said.
In her contribution, the Chief Magistrate of Court 12, Mrs Safiya Musa, challenged the media in setting a gender that would end such violence.
She described the media as a vibrant tool that drives the society towards changes, urging the media to set the pace in that direction.
“The media should be not the fourth estate rather are the first, because whatever changes, development or issue that the media take up, it makes the society to deal with the particular issue till is either adopted or kicked away by the society.
“I am therefore challenging the media to bring an end to all forms of gender violence in the state and country at large,” she said.
Also, Mrs Amina Garuba of Court 13, said that mentoring was key towards ending the act of gender violence in the society.
According to her, youths should be mentored adequately and at early age before developing the courage in carrying out such violence.
Speaking on behalf of the participants, Mrs Mairo Lasan, representing the Bauchi State Network for CSOs (BASNEC), said that the organisation would embark on advocacy to relevant stakeholders for the review of some laws on gender violence.
She said that gender violence has become a trending issue globally, as such all hands must be on deck for total eradication of such acts, which has led to so many deaths, injuries and psychological disorder.
The forum was organised by the Bauchi State/United States Exchange Alumni, as part of its activities to end GV in the state.