By Murtala Muhammad
Journalists for Public Health and Development Initiative (J4PD) has embarked on a fifteen-minute Stand Still Activity at Dogon Yaro Roundabout in Bauchi metropolis to commemorate the 2025 Sixteen Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence (GBV).
The awareness activity brought itogether Journalists, Civil Society Organisations, professional bodies, State Ministry of Justice and advocates to draw public attention to the rising cases of gender-based violence and the need for stronger community protection.
Speaking to Radio Nigeria, the Executive Director of J4PD, Ms Elizabeth Kah said the Stand Still approach was adopted to symbolise society’s collective responsibility to end GBV through public awareness, reporting and accountability.
While urging the state government to ensure perpetrators of GBV were accordingly punished as enshrined in the VAPP Law, Ms Kah called on the public to speak out whenever such act happened in their communities.
She noted that Bauchi remains one of the focal states where continued advocacy and media engagement are crucial towards improving prevention efforts and supporting survivors of GBV to access justice.
Ms Kah said the theme for this year “Unite, Invest to Protect Violence Against Women and Girls” with specific focus on “Protecting Girls from Digital and Physical Violence”, was apt in view of current increasing Cyber bullying being perpetrated against women and girls.
The representative of the State Ministry of Justice, Aisha Humaira Adamu assured the ministry’s commitment to ensure that GBV survivors have access to justice.
In a remark, the Chairperson, National Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, Bauchi State Chapter, Rashida Yusuf expressed commitment to intensify public enlightenment campaigns and awareness throughout the sixteen-day period.
Other participants urged government, institutions and communities to prioritise safety and preventive measures as well as ensure justice for survivors.
