The Association of Women Journalists NAWOJ, Kano state chapter has said that of the more than 1,000 cases of gender-based violence recorded annually in the state, only 15 percent are prosecuted.
The chairperson of the association Hafsa Sani Usman stated this at a one-day sensitization workshop on human rights and social inclusion organized by Stallion Times with the support of MacArthur Foundation held in Kano on Wednesday.
According to her, with more than one thousand (1,000) cases every year, only 15 percent are prosecuted while only 5 percent are reported to the Ministry of Justice for necessary actions.
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She said, “The WARAKA sexual referral Centre Murtala Muhammad Special Hospital Kano which is the main center dealing with those cases, could you imagine a significant number of cases are even not reported at all.”
She urged then parents and guardians to be more vigilant and report any case of human rights violation, child labour, and molestation to relevant authorities to curb the scourge.
The chairperson expressed NAWOJ’s determination to collaborate with relevant stakeholders in curbing gender-based violence (GBV) and protecting the rights of women and girls.
Remarking, the chief executive officer of Stallion Times, Alhaji Isiyaku Ahmed advised the media to advocate for human rights and social inclusion through news coverage.
He said the media have a vital role to play by covering human rights and inclusion issues and following up on cases to ensure justice for survivors of gender-based violence.
He pointed out that, the objectives of the training are to promote human rights and social inclusion as well as appreciate conditions for gender equity in society and development.
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He said the project get involved, dialogue and improve project (GDRIP), is supported by the MacArthur Foundation to educate journalists.
“We hope that we will work together to promote human rights and social inclusion”
In her presentation titled “Understanding Human Rights and Social Inclusion in the Media”, a lecturer at the Department of Political Science at Bayero University Kano (BUK), Professor Aisha Isma’il defined women’s rights as human rights.
She described rights to life and property, rights to education, empowerment, freedom from abuse, exploitation, harassment, and violence, and rights to participate in the public sphere, and decision-making as some of the fundamental human rights.
She highlighted that the media can significantly impact how gender equity and social inclusion are understood, discussed, and addressed.
“Types of gender-based violence include physical, sexual, economic, emotional, spiritual, verbal, stalking and social.”