By Murtala Muhammad
Students of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) Bauchi, have been urged to speak out and report any form of violence or harassment perpetrated against them by lecturers or fellow students.
The State Programme Officer of the United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA, Ms Deborah Tabara, made the call during a one-day sensitisation programme on the Violence Against Persons Prohibition, VAPP, Law 2022 and other relevant laws protecting citizens against GBV.
The sensitisation programme was organised by the Bauchi State Ministry of Justice in collaboration with the Faculty of Environmental Technology, ATBU, Bauchi, with support from UNFPA.
It attracted participants from various departments of the university.
Ms Deborah Tabara described GBV as a violation of human rights that undermines the security, wellbeing and development of individuals, institutions and communities.
She stressed the need for perpetrators of GBV to be reported for prosecution, noting that concealing such acts could embolden offenders to commit further crimes.
In a remark, the Gender Desk Officer, Bauchi State Ministry of Justice, Maimuna Ibrahim, said the sensitisation was aimed at promoting and strengthening reporting channels, as well as building trust between the university community and justice institutions.
She said the campaign was also designed to acquaint students with relevant information and the various provisions of the VAPP Law.
Also speaking, the Gender Desk Officer, Bauchi State Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Zuwaira Baba, urged students not to hesitate to report cases of GBV to the appropriate authorities.
She assured survivors of access to mental health and psychosocial support services.
The Dean, Faculty of Environmental Technology, ATBU, Professor Adamu Babayo who commended the State Ministry of Justice for organising the sensitisation programme, expressed the faculty’s readiness to strengthen collaboration with relevant organisations towards addressing GBV within the university community.
The programme also provided an opportunity for students to ask questions and seek clarification on issues relating to GBV, with resource persons responding to their enquiries.