Project Alert holds refresher training for Sexual and Gender Based Violence Surveillance team to mark IWD
By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
In continuation of the activities marking this year’s International Women’s Day (IWD) this month, a non governmental organisation, Project Alert on Violence Against Women which advocates for the elimination of violence against women and girls, sexual and gender based violence, on Thursday held a one-day refresher training at Ikeja, Lagos for Project Alert’s Community Surveillance Team Members from about fifteen Local Government Areas of Lagos State.
The Community Surveillance Team members present for the refresher training were from eight local government areas of Lagos State.
The objective of the training was to deepen the understanding of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), including its forms, prevalence, available support services, and best practices for reporting and documentation.
The role of the surveillance team is vital in ensuring effective response to sexual and gender based violence and advocacy within their various communities.
During the Sexual and Gender based Violence Surveillance Team refresher training, two papers were presented.
The Lagos State coordinator of Child Protection Network and Executive coordinator of the Bimbo Odukoya Foundation, Mrs Aderonke Mary Oyelakin prevented the first paper titled “Understanding Sexual and Gender Based Violence: Forms, Prevalence and Emerging Trends”.
Mrs Mary Oyelakin highlighted areas of great importance which the participants noted for the elimination of gender based violence in their various communities and even beyond.
She explained that GBV is violence directed against a person because of that person’s gender or violence that affects persons of a particular gender disproportionately
She further said that it is any harmful act perpetrated against a person’s will and motivated by gender norms and unequal power relationships between men and women. These include acts that inflict physical, sexual or mental harm or suffering, threats of such acts, coercion and other deprivations of liberty.
“Gender-based violence (GBV) is an umbrella term for any harmful act that is perpetrated against a person’s will, and that is based on socially ascribed (gender) differences between male and female .
“GBV in not synonymous for violence against women and girls even though it is widely recognized that GBV is normally perpetrated against women and girls by men and boys. It also happened to men and boys.
She outlined different forms of GBV as
Physical violence, Verbal & Psychological violence, Sexual violence, Socio-economic violence and Spiritual Violence.
Mrs Oyelakin reminded the participants of the Lagos Child Rights Law which protects the rights of children under eighteen years.
She tasked the participants to watch out for any GBV abuse within their communities and report such incidents to the appropriate authority without exposing their identity.
The second paper titled “Providing Support to GBV Survivors: the Role of Community Groups, the Police, Government Agencies and NGOs ( SARCs, Shelters and Legal Aid)” was presented by Mrs Oluwakemi Bello, Head, Field Operations Department, Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency.
She said that providing support to SGBV survivors requires the active role of the community, government agencies, the police, the non- governmental organisations.
“Each of these actors plays an essential role in addressing SGBV, but our efforts are most effective when we all work together in a coordinated manner.
Strengthening partnerships, improving survivor-centered approaches, and ensuring accountability can create a more robust support system that empowers survivors and helps end the cycle of violence.
” Everybody should be an advocate of SGBV. When you see something, say something”
She said that 08000333333 is a toll free line that should be called to report any form or incident of SGBV or seek support/help.
In their goodwill messages, Mr Damilare Adewusi, representative of the Executive Secretary, Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) said ” Community work is a call to action to each and everyone of us.We all should take the message home. We need your collaborative support. When it is done, this place will be a better place for us”
Mr Samuel Akpologun, Executive Director, Open Society on Justice Reform Project (OSYRP) said ” We are glad to partner with Project Alert intervention.We are alive to counter sexual and gender based violence of women and girls. I call on all to shine the light to ensure that we eliminate the sexual and gender based violence”
Speaking with journalists, the Founder and Executive Director, Project Alert On Violence Against Women, Dr Mrs Josephine Effah-Chukwuma said that the essence of the refresher training is to once more acquaint the participants with the roles they should play in their various communities to checkmate and eliminate gender based violence.
She said that the journey that led to the formation of community surveillance teams started in 2020 during COVID when everyone was staying at home.
The situation within that period led to increase in sexual and gender based violence.
Project Alert came up with the idea to engage community leaders and others in various professions/ trade and give them some basic information on what sexual and gender based violence is all about, create awareness so as to discourage such actions.
“Specifically, the event for the day is to have a kind of refresher training for the SGBV Surveillance team, four years after 2020, as part of the activities to mark International Women’s Day this month” Effah-Chukwuma said.
Certificates were presented to the participants present from eight Local Government Areas of Lagos State in recognition for their selfless service within their communities.
The Local Government Areas represented include Ikeja, Oshodi/Isolo, Ajeromi/Ifelodun, Ifako/Ijaye, Alimoso, Yaba, Mushin and Somolu..
Also instruments such as megaphone, umbrella and jackets for their work of advocacy were given to them.
