CARE International leads crusade on Gender-Based Violence in Yobe

By Bode Olushegun

CARE in Nigeria, on Wednesday, said Gender Based-Violence (GBV) remained a critical rights violation committed against people based on their gender identity, gender expression or sexual orientation.

Speaking during the launch of a16-day activism in Damaturu, the Yobe state capital, Manager, Department of state, CARE Nigeria, Nubwa Chama, said GBV was often used as a tool to dominate and intimidate, to reinforce gender inequalities among and across groups through family and peer pressures; policies and programmes that criminalize certain sexualities, or powerful social norms that perpetuate child marriage.

Her words: “I am pleased to share with you the heartbeat of CARE in Nigeria, on this great occasion of the launch of 16 days of activism and leading the campaign on Gender Based Violence (GBV) here in Yobe state.

“CARE in Nigeria has long stood for its code of conduct, describing our value of Transformation, Integrity, Diversity, Excellence and Equality, and the undertakings that unite CARE staff around the world and keep our programmes firmly directed towards fighting poverty especially among women and girls.

“At CARE, we work to address multiple forms of GBV through Intimate partner relationships and violence, Child and early forced marriage and other harmful traditional practices, Social norms related to toxic masculinities, homophobia and transphobia, and

Gendered economic exploitation and exclusion.”

She said, in CARE’s experiences, GBV has been used to control and stop people from entering the work force or making choices about their lives-including decisions related to sexual and reproductive health, their food and nutrition.

“Gender Based Violence is a driver and a consequence of social and political exclusion, conflict, gender inequality and poverty.

“Affirming the right of women and girls to live a life free from violence is a vital and necessary step toward advancing CARE’s vision of a world of hope, tolerance and social justice, where poverty has been overcome and all people live in dignity and security.

“In CARE’s experience, GBV can undermine the effectiveness of health, education, agriculture and other programs; for instance, when the threat of violence keeps certain people from participating or accessing services based on their gender status or sexuality.”

Citing some cases, she said development interventions could also trigger violence.

“When women’s income, public participation or mobility are perceived as threatening and cause backlash in households. Given how interventions across sectors interact with people of different genders, monitoring, mitigating and responding to GBV is important for ethical and effective programming in all development and humanitarian work.

“We must constantly be alert to gaps between policies and practice and work to close them,” she stated.