Community advocates  join efforts to end violence against women, girls

Our Reporter

The European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN) have embarked on a new, global, multi-year initiative focused on eliminating all forms of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) – The Spotlight Initiative.

With the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Centre for Women’s Health and Information (CEWHIN) organised a two-day capacity building workshop for volunteer community advocates within the Yaba Local Council Development Area of Lagos State.

The workshop, which held at the Conference Hall of the Chartered Institute of Bankers , Yaba, had participants drawn from religious groups, persons with disabilities, development associations, non-governmental organisations among others.

The Spotlight Initiative brings focused attention to the endemic issue of Gender Based Violence (GBV) and seeks to support efforts to achieve gender equality and women’s empowerment, in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

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One of the participants, Sylvia Udoh, who works with young girls and boys in Otumara Ilaje Community described the workshop as “an impactful one which has given her insights into how to handle cases of gender based violence.”

The Programmes Coordinator of CEWHIN, Mrs. Adebanke Akinrimisi, noted that a similar workshop was held in Ikorodu in January and the beneficiaries have been using knowledge acquired during the workshop to engage with different groups of people in Ikorodu with the aim of promoting appropriate shifts in culture and social norms change.

“Similar actions are expected from the participants at the Yaba training too. One of the key lessons that participants took home is a proper understanding of the strong linkage between gender inequality and gender based violence.

The workshop was designed to help them understand the rights of women and girls, the various forms of abuse of such rights and the appropriate government agencies to refer cases of abuse.

Their capacity has been enhanced for challenging discrimination and inequality. CEWHIN’s project within the Spotlight Initiative seeks to strengthen the existing GBV response system in Lagos State.”