Gender Based Violence has been identified as a major challenge that impacts on every sector of the economy, and significantly constrain women’s autonomy and opportunities.
Mr. Friday Ogazi, a development expert made the disclosure at a one day training organized by Chachavivi Women and Girl Child Development Foundation in partnership with Nigerian Women Trust Fund, with funding by Ford Foundation, is geared towards ending GBV in the State for critical stakeholders.
Mr. Friday who disclosed that the girl child is mostly faced with more issues of gender based violence, urged the participants to always rely on standard tools and methodology for data collection and in analysing gender Based issues.
The Expert equally suggested the use of uniform classification of GBV incidence across service providers as well as ensure the use of reliable information.
Mr. Friday identified Intimate partner violence, non partner sexual abuse, female genital mutilation, sexual exploitation abuse, child abuse, female infanticide and child marriage as some major form of GBV, lamented that the inability to have accurate data and reporting GBV has limited the fight against GBV.
He emphasized the importance of identifying and analysing the issues by the survivor’s, called for survival centred approach that should always be considered to enable the preparation of a case plan.
He further advocated
responsive functional system and a case conference pointing out that the need to respect people’s rights involved in GBV, by maintaining there dignity, confidentiality and non discrimination should be the effective referral pathways.
While noting that the need to have an understanding of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Bill law existing in the State that seeks to protect people whose rights have been infringed upon, remains sacrosanct in redressing abuse, should not be downplayed, pointing out that if well understood and applied, has the capacity to check GBV
In a project overview at the training, the Project Coordinator, Chachavivi Women and Girl Child Development Foundation (CCWGDF),
Solomon Umar described Gender Based Violence (GBV) as one of the most oppressive forms of gender inequality, posing a fundamental barrier for the girl child in particular to express her potential.
The training he equally added is to strengthen and show support to systems towards enabling them respond and prevent GBV in Kogi, Adavi and Igalamela LGAs of Kogi State, would come to an end in February 2023.
According to the Project Coordinator, the training aims at identifying gender gaps, their responses and prevention mechanisms that would inform capacity development in areas that requires strengthening as well as sensitisation with the type of GBV identified across the different locations.
The Gender analysis by Chachavivi he explained was done through a focal group discussion (FGD) and a key informant interview (KII), notes that GBV impedes equality and the achievement of a range of development outcomes in the Society, hence the need for ultimate solution.
Chachavivi Women and Girl Child Development Foundation is a nonprofit organization he adds is geared towards advocating and engaging with duty bearers on the need to uphold their dignity and welfare.
The programme according to the Project Coordinator, will through awareness creation, capacity building, media engagement, gender analysis, effective functional system, increase citizens knowledge, strive towards ensuring reduction of GBV.
The one day training was held at the Reverton Hotel, is one efforts by Chachavivi Women and Girl child development foundation to curb GBV.
The one day training was attended by heads of religious organizations, Community Representatives, the media the civil society organizations.