The Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has hailed the new law prescribing a 14-year jail term for sexual harassment in schools, describing it as a key step towards protecting the rights and dignity of students in Nigeria.
The commendation was given by the Program Officer of the Men’s Feminist Network Project, Mr. Sani-Saidu Muhammad, during a press conference on Wednesday in Zaria, Kaduna State, where he also urged men to support the fight against gender-based violence (GBV).
Muhammad said the law would serve as a strong deterrent to perpetrators of sexual misconduct and help create safer learning environments for students.
He called on governments at the sub-national level to domesticate the law to ensure its full implementation across the country.
The official also called on states that have not yet adopted the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law (VAPP) and the Child Rights Law to do so urgently to strengthen child protection and curb gender violence.
Muhammad said CITAD had introduced a new initiative called “Central Support for Networking of Male Feminists in Support of Gender-Based Violence Prevention in Nigeria.”
He explained that the initiative seeks to mobilize men and boys as allies in the campaign against GBV and gender discrimination.
“We recognize that much of the gender-based violence directed at women is perpetrated by men, but we also believe that men’s action is critical to ending this negative treatment of our women,” she said.
Muhammad added that the programme, implemented in partnership with the Center for Leadership, Strategy and Development (LSD Centre), is run in Kano, Kaduna and Jigawa states to promote gender equality and the dignity of women.
He said the network had engaged traditional and religious leaders to denounce harmful practices such as forced marriage, spousal abuse and public humiliation of survivors of gender-based violence.
CITAD, he added, also uses its radio program “Martabar Ya Mace” (“The Dignity of a Woman”) to promote positive masculinity and gender equality through digital media.
Muhammad emphasized the need to close the digital gender gap, noting that limited access to technology for women deepens social and economic inequality.
“Change begins with each of us: through our words, our actions and our willingness to challenge the silence,” he added.
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