TO address the prevalence of rape and sexual violence among young girls and women in rural communities, Women at Risk Foundation (WARIF), in partnership with Ford Foundation, has trained community stakeholders across local governments in Lagos State.
The programme tagged: ‘Gatekeepers Project’, had 700 Traditional Birth Attendants, (TBAs), law enforcement officers and religious leaders engaged in tackling gender-based violence in rural communities.
According to WARIF’s Founder, Kemi DaSilva-Ibru, the Gatekeepers Project was launched to train community gatekeepers who serve as first responders to cases of rape and sexual violence in their environs.
The strategy to reach a larger group of people by these trained stakeholders is encouraged with cascading the knowledge in their circle of influence.
The project’s impact was further enhanced with the addition of religious leaders as tertiary gatekeepers in the programme; recognising the importance of their role in the community and the increased awareness and prevention of cases of GBV that is achieved through their engagement.