An international Non-Governmental organization known as International Alert has commended the Bauchi state house of assembly for passing into law, the violence against persons prohibition act in the state.
The Senior Program Officer for Advocacy and Communication in Nigeria, Kolo Kenneth Kadiri, gave the commendation on Wednesday during a meeting of validation process of the NGO’s continuation of a program on women, peace and security in Nigeria, held at the command guest house, Bauchi.
“Today’s event is a validation process where all the stakeholders will come together and agree that the things that they have identified as need gap and the solution they have proffered have been diligently put together as a binding document that can become official”, Kadiri added.
The Program officer who said that the project provides guidance and support for the state governments to prevent and manage conflicts and disasters, also advocated for more women inclusion in leadership and decision making that affects their well being.
He said in all the states of the northeast, only Bauchi lacks state action plan on Women Peace and Security, hence the decision of the NGO to support the state.
Kadiri said the goal is to ensure that all states across Nigeria have a state action plan, adding that his organization involved working with the state assemblies, judiciary, state security institutions, traditional and religious leaders, civil society organizations, the media, as well as women and youth groups.
The Program Officer described the move “as quite participatory”, saying there is eagerness and the zeal from all the stakeholders consulted, especially women and girls who he said have been very vocal about the peculiarities of Bauchi State.
“When we came in here in November on advocacy visit, we met the speaker and he gave us his support at that time, assuring us that the house is willing to provide any support that we need through the house committee on gender”, he recalled.
According to him, “the overall idea is to increase gender mainstreaming where women can have a voice on the table as how they ought to be govern is concerned as far as how their needs, whether domestic or societal are met”, he added.
