AMAC, Carter center team up to tackle gender-based violence

The Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), in collaboration with Brainarc Limited and with support from The Carter Center, has restated its commitment to tackling gender based violence (GBV) through community engagement across the 12 wards of the council.

The Chairman of AMAC, Hon. Christopher Zakka Maikalangu, made the call Monday in Abuja, during the launch of the “Inform Women, Transform Lives” campaign to commemorate the International Day for Universal Access to Information 2026.

Blueprint.ng reports that “Inform Women, Transform Lives” is a global campaign advancing women’s right to information and access to essential services.

In AMAC, it supports local accountability by improving access to reliable information on women’s rights, gender-based violence (GBV), and referral/support services across all twelve wards.

The campaign aims to reach over 750,000 women and community members.

Represented at the flag off by the Vice Chairman of the Council, Hon. Yusuf Nadabo, Maikalangu explained that the campaign was aimed at advancing women’s right to information, access to essential services to support local accountability on GBV, referral/support services across the 12 wards.

“We pledge our support that the launch against GBV will be fully implemented because when you empower a woman, you strengthen her family, when you strengthen her family, you transform the community and society at large.

“Women are not just only beneficiaries of development, but partners and drivers of development. A woman who has access to the right information is better positioned to make informed decision about her health, education, business among others.

“Programs like this one are extremely important to create awareness, build confidence and open doors for opportunity among women. As a local authority being closer to people at the grassroots, we shall embark on a sensitisation campaign through our religious, traditional leaders and other medium towards ensuring the accurate information is being disseminated to all communities,” he said.

In a keynote address, UN Women Nigeria, National Programme Officer, Women in Leadership & Decision Making (WILDM), Dr. Suzan Agada, said the inclusive development and gender equality strengthen access to information being a powerful enabler to accountability, citizens participation and sustainable development.

She explained that access to transformative information opens doors to education, economic opportunities, political participation, social justice against GBV, especially among women and children.

“Women, especially in rural communities, have continued to face barriers due to lack of quality information and that has continued to affect their livelihood. Access to information must be viewed as gender equality and development imperative.

“And this requires a a strong collaboration and coordination among government institutions, Legislature, CSOs, media, engagement partners to strengthen transparency in information and awareness campaigns,” she said.

In a remark, the Program Manager Brain Act Limited, Mr Wisdom Hanson, said women globally are suffering from one GBV or the other not just the common ones we are familiar with hence, the need to access information has become veritable tools to intensify the fight against the menace.

He said they are partnering other stakeholders to amplify the message across stakeholders categories like radio, television, billboards, community engagement through mouth to mouth peer learnings, and other strategic forms that inculcate social behavioral change communication.

“We are a robust team and have quite an experience in what we do. We look forward to every great collaboration with AMAC and the Qatar Center, who had provided the funds for the implementation of the project,” he said.

On his part, the District Head of Mabushi, Alhassan Mabuchi, said the event is not just timely, but has become necessary to sensitise women and children on the need to know their rights and how to fight against GBV, sexual assault, especially against minors prevalent at the grassroots.

“I believe this event should be an eye opener for women and children at the grassroots. When being assaulted or abused in any form, come to our various palaces as your traditional rulers and I promise you that perpetrators of such act will surely face justice,” he said.

The launch brought together senior government officials, development partners, CSO’s community representative and the media to underscore access to information on GBV prevention, responsive services and accountable institutions.