By Jessica John Bakari
Stakeholders in Adamawa State have identified Poor parenting as the major cause of Gender based violence (GBV), violence against women and girls in the society.
Across section of community leaders, women groups, Religious and youths groups stated this in a community dialogue with Rabeh, Dodoreh, Magatakarda communities of Yola south local government area organized by spotlight initiative with funded support from European Union, United States with partnership with state ministry of women affairs held at Bako and Mbamoi clinics in yola town respectively.
The team led by Madam Zainab Ahmed from Girls Right Action Group advised the group to always report cases of violence against women and girls for appropriate action.
Mallam Musa Ali, the village head of mayanka, as well as Shuaibu Hayatu, Nasir Umar, Mohammed Umar Bakari, Mary Simon, Bitrus Haruna and fadimatu Aliyu said lack of moral upbringing, drugs abuse are some of the vices that cause violence against women and girls especially in their areas.
They explained that indecent dressing, Drug abuse among the youths is increasing, faulting parents and guardians of lack of monitoring their children stressing that most of the victims of violence against women and girls are children of the poor.
The community leaders, women groups, and youths called for attitudinal change from parents and appeal to governments to make a strong law on perpatrators of the act.
During the community dialogue, the groups enumerated some societal vices that youths now engaged to include, rape, cultism, lesbianism, homosexual, theft among others and commended spotlights intiative, UNICEF, women affairs for coming up with the programme.
They called for more sensitization programme especially on youths through organising workshop while parents should take responsibility of their children and monitor the peer group the associate with.