AN NGO, Hacey Health Initiative (HHI), in partnership with Access Bank, has built the capacity of 57 adolescent boys and girls in Borno State to become Gender Based Violence (GBV) advocates and champions, as part of activities to mark 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
The training on eliminating all forms of gender-based violence is an advocacy Against Gender-Based Violence, meant to promote awareness on fight against gender-based violence in the state.
Capacities of 21 boys and 36 girls were strengthened on the meaning, nature, types and classification of the Gender-Based Violence, using local examples, visual aids and illustrations to enhance their understanding of the messages.
Speaking on the event, Borno State Coordinator of HHI, Musa Gambo, noted that GBV is one of most oppressive form of gender inequality, posing fundamental barrier to equal opportunities for women, girls and men’s participation in social, economic, and political spheres of life.
He said, though GBV affects both men and women, but that women are more vulnerable because violence reflects and reinforces existing gap in power relations and consequentially gender inequalities.
“Such violence impedes the achievement of a range of development outcomes, which precludes women from contributing their quota or even benefitting from development initiatives, thereby limiting their choices and proven ability.
“Building the capacity of young girls on GBV issues will enable them become advocates for elimination of GBV in their communities, and inform others on the options available for Survivors and Referral Pathways.” Gambo explained.
“We did not only concentrate on training girls on how to prevent the occurrence of the SGBV, we also taught the boys to be self-disciplined and compassionate toward girls and women,” he added.