UNFPA Urges Zero Tolerance For Gender-based Violence In Bauchi

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Bauchi State, has asked students and tertiary institutions to adopt a zero-tolerance policy for gender-based violence (GBV), warning that abuse undermines development and violates fundamental human rights.

The call was made yesterday by the gender and reproductive health analyst and coordinator of UNFPA, Bauchi, Deborah Tabara, during a one-day sensitisation programme on the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) (VAPP) Law held at Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic (ATAP), Bauchi.

The programme was organised by the Bauchi State Ministry of Justice in collaboration with UNFPA and ATAP.

Tabara said young people remained central to the UNFPA mandate, stressing the importance of creating a safe environment where they could realise their full potential.

“We are the reproductive health arm of the United Nations. Our mission is to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every child is safe and every young person achieves their potential,” she said.

According to her, tackling gender-based violence is critical to achieving UNFPA’s three transformative goals, noting that GBV affects both men and women and can occur in both public and private spaces.

“Whether you are a girl or a boy, a woman or a man, gender-based violence has devastating effects in public or private spaces. It impedes development because when a person is associated with it, there is no advancement,” she said.

Tabara also announced a new partnership between UNFPA, the Bauchi State Ministry of Justice and ATAP aimed at strengthening accountability and preventing GBV on campus.

She urged students and staff to report cases of abuse, stressing that silence could encourage perpetrators to continue.

“Tolerance for gender-based violence must be zero. Everyone has a responsibility to ensure it does not occur, between students, lecturers, or both,” she said.

“One rape plus silence equals multiple rapes. When there is no deterrence, the perpetrator continues. But when we speak up, GBV can be addressed.”

Speaking on behalf of the Permanent Secretary and Solicitor General of Bauchi State, the Director of Public Prosecution, Barrister Garba Dabo Maleka, warned students against exchanging sex for academic grades or other benefits.

“You are future leaders, engineers and scientists. We want you to be safe and prepared. Do not select sex as a way of getting marks or allocation,” he told the students.

Maleka listed available channels for reporting cases to include his office, the Permanent Secretary, the police and campus counsellors, while advising survivors of rape to seek immediate medical attention.

The management of ATAP also pledged to support the state government’s efforts to eradicate GBV in tertiary institutions.

Speaking on behalf of the Rector, Dr. Hashim Sabo Bello, the Director of Ethics and Compliance, Dr. Alhaji Abdulkadir Waziri, said the institution had established a gender and sexual harassment committee to address cases of abuse.

He added that the polytechnic was prepared to take disciplinary and legal action against perpetrators.

“The theme is timely and aligned with our core values of dignity, integrity and respect for human dignity,” Waziri said.

The gender desk officer, Bauchi State Ministry of Justice, Maimuna Ibrahim Yusuf, called on all tertiary institutions in the state to establish functional gender desks and grievance committees.

She said the initiative was aimed at educating students and staff on what constitutes GBV, its legal implications and the available mechanisms for reporting cases.

The sensitisation programme was attended by students, lecturers, counsellors and security officials.

The Ministry of Justice said it would continue to collaborate with school managements to ensure that gender desks were accessible and functional.

Other partners, including J4PD, also pledged to work with health stakeholders, journalists and community groups to strengthen public awareness and promote early action towards preventing gender-based violence.