As Nigeria joined the global community to commemorate the International Day for the elimination of gender-based violence against women and girls, the National Association of Seadogs, NAS, in the Northwest zone at the weekend, took its campaign to Makera Community in Kaduna South Local Government Area.

Speaking on the margins of the campaign, President of the Kaduna Chapter of NAS also known as Pyrates Confraternity, Ambassador Dr. Obinna Okpara said the association joined the UN to celebrate the international day and was able to collaborate with the Kaduna State Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Human Services and Social Development, FIDA and other noble associations so as to create awareness and provide a solution to the ills of the community.

He said they were against any form of violence against women, including rape of the girl child  and the issue of dropping the girl child from school because of her gender, adding that they were also against not giving women their right in the family.

 Okpara said such experience could be traumatic, leading to mental issues to a point that some victims would contemplate committing suicide, adding that they were with health officials and other experts to let them know they could overcome the trauma thus living a better life, or where they could go for rehabilitation.

He stressed that what they were doing was new to the community, noting that the two state ministries headed by female commissioners were happy with the development.

The association, he said, would work with the government to ensure justice is being implemented so that the vices would not continue.

Dr.Salima Mohammed from the Kaduna State Ministry of Health said although gender based violence affects women more because they are more vulnerable than the men, women too do violence against the men.

She explained that the state government now has a sexual offender data base where those caught by law would be exposed to the world.

“You can go to the website and have the history of anyone who has been a criminal or the one convicted. If you go on line his name would be there, all over the world.,” she said.

She also revealed that there are four sexual assault referral centres in the state and a mobile one where one could report because Kaduna state government takes the issue seriously, adding that they are working in synergy with security agencies so that people can be protected.

Also speaking, Mrs.Martina Egwuibe, Head of branch of the National Library in Kaduna said they were creating and sensitizing awareness to Kaduna populace on the issue because they discovered that instead of the violence against women and girl child to come down as a result of the campaign over years, it’s rather increasing.

“So we decided its enough of speaking in TV or radio  to speak English,enough of sitting in the urban area having programmes.This year we decided to come down to the community.”

She said it’s a global problem that requires the NGOs, government, corporate organizations and individuals to unite against, which led to this year’s theme  ‘Unite  Activism to end violence against women and child.

An expert, Amb. Lois  Otse Adams said through such a campaign, they hope to reduce the high level of domestic violence against women and girl child in schools, public places, in homes and in society so that women can live peacefully with their male counterparts.

The District Head of Makera Community, Alhaji Shehu Tijjani Ciroman Zazzau thanked them for coming to his community and hoped similar organisations would emulate the gesture.

Highlight of the occasion was a road walk on some Kaduna streets by members of NAS to sensitize the public on the campaign, and an interactive session with women and girls on the importance of the elimination of gender-based violence.