The training workshop took place on the 11th o May at with 50 participants (38 male, 12 female) present. Key highlights of the workshop included:
- The concept, forms, and prevalence of gender-based violence, its impact on individuals, families, and communities as well as the root causes of SGBV and its intersection with cultural and social norms.
- The role of traditional, religious, and community leaders in promoting and enforcing these laws; gaps and challenges in implementing SGBV-related policies at the community level.
- The wide-ranging consequences of SGBV for individuals, families, and the entire community; the socio-economic, health, and psychological impacts of SGBV.
- Identifying and challenging harmful gender norms and practices within the community; traditional beliefs, stereotypes, and roles that perpetuate SGBV; and promoting gender equality, respect, and consent within cultural and religious contexts.
- The influential role that traditional, religious, and community leaders have in shaping community attitudes and behaviors; strategies to leverage leadership positions for promoting gender equality and preventing SGBV; and best practices and success stories from other communities where leaders have played a pivotal role.
- Effective communication techniques to engage community members in discussions on SGBV.
Output: One Training sessions conducted for traditional, religious, and community leaders: A series of training sessions organized, reaching a total of 50 traditional, religious, and community leaders.
Outcome: Increased awareness and understanding of GBV (Post-training evaluation reveals a 40% increase in knowledge and understanding of GBV, including its forms, causes, consequences, and available support services among traditional, religious, and community leaders)
Community-wide awareness and prevention as trained leaders initiated community-wide awareness campaigns, resulting in an increase in community members’ knowledge about GBV, its consequences, and prevention strategies.