From: Uthman Baba Sirajdeen -Minna
Due to the rising cases of Gender Based Violence (GBV) in the society, the African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA) Niger State Chapter is to embark on sensitization and enlightenment programs across some selected girls secondary schools in State.
The chairperson of the association in the state Hajiya Uma Mohammed stated this in Minna while speaking with journalists.
She said the sensitization program is aimed at informing the students the importance of guiding and protecting themselves against all forms of sexual molestation and any other violence against girl child in the state.
Hajiya Uma explained that the sensitization program has become imperative as a result of the unprecedented cases of sexual molestation and harassment being carried out against secondary schools girls in some girls schools in Niger State.
According to the AWLA chairperson, the sensitization and enlightenment programs will assist the students to expose any act of sexual harassment and molestation by any persons or group in their school for prompt action against such a person.
The association, she explained has received series of reports of gender related cases and sexual abuse as well as other sexual molestation against girl child Particularly from their school without the students making it Public.
” The African Women Lawyers Association under my leadership in Niger State is prepared to bring an end to all forms of genders related cases and sexual harassment and molestation against girl child.
“The association will embark on sensitization program across some girls schools in the state. The sensitization visit is to inform the students on the need for them to raise their voices against such harassment on them.
” We will not allow such molestation by anybody, no matter his status in the school, what we in the association need is for the students to have the courage to expose the person involved, then we will take it up from there” she asserted.
Hajiya Uma Mohammed disclosed that the association as an African based non governmental organization ( NGO) will partner with relevant critical stakeholders and agencies towards actualizing the set objective of the association.
She requested the Niger State Ministry of women and genders affairs to support and collaborate with the association in its determination to fight the increasing proportion of gender violence against girl child, women and the vulnerables in the society.
