Sessions with teachers at the nursery, primary, secondary and PTA levels at the staff room
The session was held at GBHS Bamendakwe on the 10th of May and had in attendance the following number of persons (male, female). Key highlights of the sessions were around the following; Definition, forms, and prevalence of gender-based violence, the impact of SGBV on students’ well-being, education, and overall development and the role of teachers in preventing and addressing SGBV within the educational context. The importance of creating safe, inclusive, and gender-responsive learning environments, promoting respect, empathy, and equality among students; and classroom practices that contribute to a positive and supportive learning environment. Gender-sensitive teaching approaches that challenge gender stereotypes promote equality and integrate gender perspectives into curricula, instructional materials, and classroom activities. Recognizing signs of SGBV among students, appropriate responses and support strategies for students affected by SGBV, and referral mechanisms and available support services for students in need. The role of parents and the PTA in preventing and addressing SGBV, and engaging parents in promoting respectful and healthy relationships.
Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV)
REWAC considers prevention of and response to SGBV a major priority across all target populations. Our multidimensional SGBV program includes: Operating safe shelters in 5 regions for SGBV survivors providing medical care, psychosocial support, safety planning, skills building, and access to justice with strict confidentiality. Shelters are open to women, girls, men, boys and LGBTQ+ persons. Training community-based para-legal and para-social workers to conduct awareness activities, identify survivors through community outreach, provide basic counsel and make timely referrals to support services and shelters. Forming community watch groups and conducting sensitization campaigns targeting men, traditional leaders, and youth on preventing SGBV, transforming harmful social norms, respectful relationships, and consequences of violence. Providing empowerment training for women and girls on self-esteem, assertiveness, women’s rights, and reporting SGBV through our community centers. Males are engaged on positive masculinities. Operating confidential SGBV reporting hotlines, referral systems, and facilitating community discussions on stigma, victim protection and accountability for perpetrators. Offering legal assistance for SGBV survivors including counseling, accessing medical reports, filing police reports if desired, accompanying survivors through court process, including claiming compensation. Engaging in advocacy and awareness-raising to strengthen national laws addressing sexual and domestic violence, marital rape, female genital mutilation/cutting and child marriage. Conducting capacity building with police, social workers, health workers, lawyers and jurists on SGBV-sensitive investigation, documentation, and prosecution following best practices and protocols. Undertaking advocacy, community sensitization, and offering material support for girls at-risk of child and forced marriage and female genital mutilation/cutting, as well as married girls. Promoting women’s leadership, conducting research on SGBV scope and drivers, and monitoring response services to strengthen prevention and accountability.