International Youth Day: UNESCO, UNICAL partner on gender-based violence

From Judex Okoro, Calabar

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the management of the University of Calabar have concluded arrangements to partner on gender-based violence within the institution.

The Programme Director, ISMPH-UNESCO Spotlight Initiative, Solomon Dogo, who disclosed this at a rally to mark this year’s International Youth Day held in Calabar with theme, “Green Skills for youths,” said they were working with the institution to end the menace.

Giving details about the partnership, he said: “Today is International Youth Day and we have organised a rally with students of the University of Calabar to see how we can end gender-based violence through awareness creation

“Before now, we have developed a gender response manual which was shared with the University of Calabar management. And the Student Union Government has given us a commitment that the gender-based violence manual will be used as a curriculum within the school.

“The Spotlight Initiative Project is being implemented in six states. In the first phase, we implemented it at the University of Lagos, the University of Sokoto, and the University of Abuja. In the second phase, we will be implementing it in Ebonyi State University, the University of Calabar, and the American International University, Yola.”

According to the Programme Director, once students have in mind that gender-based violence is not good, they would go into the larger society and become better citizens.

The Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Florence Obi, who was represented by Grace Ibor, deputy director, office of sustainable fund management and alumni relations, said the institution had provided opportunities for youths to access international activities to learn skills and support the sustainable development goals.

Ibor said the institution was working with the directorate of general studies, academic planning, and directorate of gender to infuse the campaign into the curriculum to ensure it was properly mainstreamed.