Journalist Takes Gender Based Campaign To Adamawa Schools

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By; TINA PHINEAS, Yola
Students have been advised to eschew violence in every form, and focus
on becoming agents of change that will shape the future of the country.
Mrs. Tina Phineas of the New Nigerian Newspapers gave the advice on Friday,
during a Gender Based Violence (GBV) awareness campaign in selected
schools in Yola South Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
According to her, GBV is a problem that seriously impacts not only on the individual, but also on the community and nation as a whole.
Phineas maintained that violence against women and girls, is one of the most shameful human rights violation and  the most pervasive, which knows no boundaries of geography, culture or wealth, as long as it continues, we cannot make  progress towards equality, development and peace.
She disclosed that the campaign was geared towards educating the youngsters about GBV, its effect on the society and the need to speak out against it.
“Our goal is to reduce Gender-Based Violence (domestic and sexual violence perpetrated against women and girls) in the home front, in schools, in the work place, in camps and the society at large,” she
affirmed.
Phineas said her joy will be full when government (both Federal and state), Civil Society Organisations (CSO), Non Governmental Organisations ( NGO’s) and other individuals involve in GBV campaign
bring about a society where attitudes to the use of violence (sexual, physical or psychological) have been transformed.
She also appreciated conflict transforming and peace building international NGO, Search for Common Ground (SFCG) for the support and opportunity to increase the visibility of salient human rights issues.
Search for Common Ground works to promote the full spectrum of human
rights for all people, addressing GBV is a crucial part of that.
“SFCG works to break the silence and stigma around GBV, with the goal
of creating strong, sustainable, cohesive and protective societies in which women and girls can flourish,” she pointed out.
After the campaign, Emmanuel Jacob a SS3 student of Yola Model Secondary School who spoke to New Nigerian said the campaign has helped in broadening his scope about issues of gender and violence.
“I will be a youth campaigner among my peers to spread the word about GBV and speak out to protect the rights of women and girls,” he stated.
Juliet Anthony a SS2 student of the same school said before the campaign, she had no idea what GBV meant or stood for.

“Now that I am armed with powerful information, I will speak out for the protection of the rights of women and girl,” she added.
She called on girls to speak out as the culture of silence surrounding GBV cases must be done away with.
“Let’s speak out against GBV in our community”, she concluded.

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