The Association of Wives of FCT Traditional Rulers has called on young school girls to speak out against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).

The group gave the advice at a sensitisation campaign organised for students at the Model Girls Junior Secondary School, AMAC Estate, Akko in Abuja.

The event, organised in collaboration with Broad Sustainable Women Economic Empowerment and Peace Initiative, was part of activities to commemorate this year’s 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence.

Gimbiya Usman, wife of the Chief of Garki, said the sensitisation campaign would equip the students with knowledge of gender-based violence and how to handle such cases.

“We have been going round various communities to sensitise these children on sexual and gender-based violence and for them to speak out when they encounter such.

“They should not feel that they will be stigmatised, they should speak out as we are ready to take it up from there.

“We cannot fold our hands as mothers and watch these menace eat deep into our society, that is why we want to empower the children with adequate knowledge on what to do when they encounter such.

“As traditional rulers wives, we are closer to the people at the grassroots and as such, we will not relent at making sure that our community is rid of gender-based violence,” she said.

Principal of the school, Titilayo Yahaya, appreciated the organisations for bringing the sensitisation programme to the school.

“This is a good time to sensitise them because it is good we catch them young and the advocacy of the association is in the right direction.

“On our part, the school will not relent in its efforts to support the students and follow up on any case of sexual and gender-based violence,” she said.

The school’s head girl, Fatima Mohammed, also appreciated the organisations for the sensitisation, saying they now had the confidence to speak out when molested.

The event, which featured debate competition on the subject matter, had the winners awarded with various prizes.

The event was supported by the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education and MacArthur Foundation.

(NAN)