AS part of efforts to ensure that Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is reduced to the barest minimum across Oyo State, the Oyo State Gender Based and Violence Response Team (Oyo SGBVRT), in collaboration Oyo Cares held a one-day capacity building seminar for personnel involved in issues bordering on gender based violence on identification, rescue and report of gender-based violence cases in delivery platforms in Oyo State.
The capacity building training, held at the Mediation Centre Conference Room at the Ministry of Justice, Secretariat, Ibadan, sensitised responders from various ministries, government agencies, NGOs and the media exposed them to issues in abuse and its types; financial, emotional, physical, psychological, s*xual and verbal, amongst others.
They were exposed to ways of understanding gender, s*x and fundamentals of SGBV, social issues on GBV and SGBVRT reporting channels as well as survivor-centred approach to SGBV cases and code of conduct for Oyo Cares GBV personnel.
It was said that not all abuses are evident at first look especially when it doesn’t involve violence though it is usually as deadly. It is also said that it involves harmful behavior rooted in power imbalances towards spouses, children and wards.
Also, it was stated that prosecution is difficult because witnesses are blackmailed emotionally not to expose family members while the society also engages in a culture of silence and belief that if it doesn’t affect them, it does not concern them.
They highlighted social and cultural issues on GBV reporting channels to include gender stereotyping which is aided by religious and cultural belief that a woman must be subservient and not stand up to a man even if her right is being eroded or she is being dehumanised.
They itemised stereotypes to include religious beliefs, cultural beliefs, lack of education or low education, unemployment, poverty, non-prohibition of acts that are GBV in nature and economic abuse which thinks a woman should not have money or financial independence.
Others stereotyping issues include inequality in key areas like salary, employment and a belief that associate men with power and control but women with weakness.
For response to be effective, it was said that religious and traditional rulers should be carried along but not made a core part of response channels because their beliefs rather than help issues make it worse.
They were told not to trivialise issues or give the impression that they don’t care when dealing with survivors. Need for effective communication skills, listening ability, learning to understand the need of survivors were listed as core skills that every responder needs to be able to help the cause.
They also called for inclusive policies, commitment to a safe environment, promotion of gender equality, collaboration and advocacy, leading by example, continuous improvement, community support, cultural sensitivity, believe in survivors, respect for autonomy, psychological support and long term support as important in the fight against GBV.
In her welcome address, the SGBVRT coordinator, Mrs Modupe Awosemusi stated that the role of collaboration among agencies cannot be overemphsised, adding that the issue of stigmatisation and discrimination is one of the major concerns in the fight against GBV.
According to her, there is a need to formulate policies that will ensure that religion and cultural leaders understand that shielding perpetrators will only embolden them and encourage survivors to maintain silence, even in the face of dangerous abuse.
She called for improvement in protection of survivors and emphasised the need for more funding for rescue operations.
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