The Bauchi State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Hassan El-Yakub, has identified gender-based violence (GBV) as one of the state’s most pressing human rights concerns.
El-Yakub stated this yesterday in Bauchi during a two-day training on enhancing access to justice and strengthening investigative and prosecutorial skills in handling GBV cases.
Represented by the state solicitor and permanent secretary, Barrister Yusuf Adamu, the attorney-general noted that although Bauchi has enacted laws and policies to address GBV, stronger collaboration among stakeholders was needed to ensure effective implementation.
The training brought together investigators, prosecutors, judicial officers and civil society representatives, focused on deepening knowledge of GBV legislation, evidence collection, forensic documentation and maintaining a chain of custody.
LEADERSHIP Weekend reports that participants also received guidance on building prosecutorial capacity, particularly in framing charges, presenting medical evidence and securing convictions while promoting survivor-centred justice that balances restorative and punitive approaches.
The UNFPA gender and reproductive health analyst and state programme officer, Deborah Tabara, commended the Ministry of Justice for engaging key stakeholders, stressing that the training would help bridge gaps in managing GBV cases.
Similarly, the state ministry’s gender desk officer, Barr. Maimuna Ibrahim, revealed that most of the cases recorded by the ministry involved sexual violence and the abuse of minors.
Goodwill messages were delivered by representatives of the State Ministry of Women Affairs and Child Development, the State Office of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Journalists for Public Health and Development Initiative (J4PD).
