A special sitting of the Bole Youth Parliament has been held to discuss issues bordering on gender-based violence in the Bole District and how the youth and other stakeholders can contribute to ensure that incidences of gender-based violence’s are reduced.
The event, held on April 23, 2021, under the auspices of the National Youth Authority (NYA), saw the Majority and Minority sides of the House debate on gender-based violence situation in the District and suggested ways of solving gender- based violence especially with women being most of the victims.
Madam Anim Mary a Police Officer with the District DOVVSU unit speaking on the “causes, effects and way forward of gender-based violence; the role of the Youth Parliamentarians” said the that, the District had witnessed some cases of domestic violence’s as in assault, defilement and threat of death.
She mentioned that 9 assault cases were reported in 2020, 1 defilement case and 1 death threat case and with the year 2021, 3 cases were reported on assault and 2 defilement cases which she describes the trend as worrying and called for a consultative engagements to help remedy the situation.
She added that enactment of gender- based laws need to be strengthened as well as empowerment of women should be taken into consideration in the District to help curtail the menace.
Mr Mumuni Sulemana, the National Director of programs and the overseer for Northern, Savannah and North- East Regions said he was not happy about the situation hence the need for the special sitting to discuss ways to address the issue.
“With Youth Parliament as an advocacy platform, I think they can do a lot to bring that change.”
Mr Sulemana emphasised the need to tackle the issue by engaging with relevant stakeholders to find a solution.
“This debate is to jaw jaw with the youth so as to become ambassadors of the message and try to engage whoever that matters even within themselves, their families, and friends so that when they change themselves, their families change, friends change, then we can be sure of full societal change,” he said.
Mr Abdul Ganiu Issahaku, the Majority Leader of the Bole Youth Parliament, said his side of the House would form a change group and collaborate with the Ghana Education Service to educate the people to know the effects of gender- based violence issues in the District.
Mrs Jeburo Mary, the Minority Leader, called on the on media to embark on campaigns to sensitise the youth and also asked that, the Social Welfare department have to educate people on their rights so that people especially women can speak out when their rights are trampled upon.
On her side, the District Chief Executive for Bole, Madam Veronica Alele Heming, asked the youth to take their education seriously in order for them to become responsible citizens in the future.
She promised to get airtime at the radio stations for the Youth Parliament for them to communicate their message effectively to the masses to effect a change in our societies.
The Bole Youth Parliament, which is under the NYA, operates like the national Parliament where youth in the District come together to discuss topical issues of concern to draw duty-bearers’ attention for possible solutions.
Source: yagbonradioonline
