As we kick off the year 2024, we urge the government, stakeholders, and the community to devise collaborative strategies aimed at reducing the acts of Gender Based Violence (GBV) that disproportionately affect women, children, and also young men, who statistics show are major perpetrators of these acts.

A recently released report on GBV for the year 2023 by the Office of the Chief Government Statistician reveals that a total of 1954 incidents were reported in 2023, marking an increase of 594 incidents compared to the 1360 reported in 2022.

The data indicates that a significant number of young men between the ages of 18-29 have been identified as the primary suspects in these reports of abuse. Among the 111 people who are jailed locally known as students at the rehabilitation centers, 69 are young men, constituting 62% of all students.

Stakeholders, led by the government, need to conduct a comprehensive analysis to understand the root causes of this increase, educate the community, and monitor all emerging incidents. Stakeholders are also required to track every step taken by the community, report complaints to the legal authorities to ensure justice, transparency, and accountability.

Of particular importance, stakeholders should provide education to young people by launching a self-awareness campaign, promoting behavioral change, and instilling life skills to raise awareness about the consequences of abuse and how to prevent it.

Training providers for the community, including teachers and health workers, need to have a specific operational manual showing the structure of providing education, showing the indicators and outlining joint steps to eradicate such acts.

We call upon all citizens, stakeholders, and the community at large to unite in opposing GBV and gender inequality, and take on the responsibility of nurturing and protecting women and children to build a nation that values human rights and gender equality for the progress of all.

Dr. Mzuri Issa,

Director,

TAMWA ZNZ.