Humanity Family Foundation for Peace and Development (HUFFPED), has empowered women in rural communities to break the silence on Gender Based Violence (GBV).
The meeting was an intervention in a bid to address the prevalent issue of GBV in Imota, near Ikorodu, Lagos State, during which the non-government organisation, HUFFPED, carried out the sensitisation dialogue program as part of the global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.
During the event that happened early December, Emmanuela Bassey, the focal person for HUFFPED, highlighted the observation that rural women often choose silence to protect their homes, emphasizing the misconception that NGOs may disrupt their family dynamics.
Bassey stressed the importance of empowering these women to speak out and report GBV incidents.
Explaining the necessity of the program, Bassey stated, “Women, especially in rural communities, don’t discuss these issues, so we had to educate them on how to report GBV. Lack of education often prevents them from speaking out, but we informed them that addressing the problem starts with acknowledging it.”
The initiative was aligned with the global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, a significant international campaign urging an end to violence against women and girls.
The campaign spanned from November 25th (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) to December 10th (Human Rights Day).
Mrs. Ologunnagba Adejoke, an official from the National Orientation Agency (NOA), encouraged participants to speak up when GBV occurs in their homes and surroundings.
The event saw the active participation of over 30 women from the community, gaining valuable insights from HUFFPED on preventing GBV and the essential steps in reporting such incidents.
Additionally, the women were sensitised to actively engage in the political process, providing them with a platform to voice their concerns within their communities.