Yobe Government has expressed concern over crises related to Gender Based Violence (GBV) in the state and vowed to end the menace.

The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hauwa Abubakar, stated this at the launch of 2021 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence on Thursday in Damaturu.

Represented by Alhaji Audu Umar, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Abubakar said “today, we are launching the campaign under the global theme “Orange the World End Violence against Women now!

She said women were becoming poorer and more vulnerable to exploitation, abuse, harassment and faced multiple crisis related to GBV, school closures and economic strains, especially during the COVID-19 lockdown period.

She added that “although the voices of activists and survivors have reached a crescendo that cannot be silenced or ignored in some countries, here in Yobe, ending gender based violence against women will require more investment, leadership, goodwill and action.

“Therefore, in line with this, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) in Yobe is supporting the Ministry of Women Affairs to launch the 2021 16 Days of Activism campaign.

Abubakar called on stakeholders to take boldest stand against GBV in the state, especially rape.

She explained that “rape is an intolerable cost to society, we in the Ministry of Women Affairs have zero tolerance to rape and rapists.”

Mr Labaran Babangida, the Coordinator, National Human Rights Commission, Yobe office, emphasised the need to prosecute perpetrators of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence to serve as deterrence to others.

He also expressed the readiness of the commission to finding a solution to the increasing cases of SGBV in the state.

Babangida added that the commission had scheduled series of activities for the 2021 16 Days of Activism starting from Nov. 25 to Dec. 10 as part of measures to check GBV in the state.