by By Izukah Favour
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in partnership with the Ministry of Women Affairs, Cross River State, organized a 4-day training programme on Gender based Based violence Violence in Emergencies (GBViE), to cushion the effects of the increasing number of people affected by gender based violence in the world, particularly in Cross River State.
The training which was held at Danic Hotels, Calabar for four days, (April 26th, 2021 to April 29th, 2021) had in attendance major stakeholders and service providers responding to cases of GBV in the state.
According to UNFPA, the aim of the training was “to increase the knowledge, skills and professional competencies of state and non- state actors to provide effective services to GBV survivors in humanitarian settings”.
During the training, selected facilitators addressed participants on Gender gender based violence, approaches to gender based violence as well as effective ways to handle cases of gender based violence in the field.
Speaking during the training, the UNFPA FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) Analyst Ms. Theresa Adah, reiterated the need for cases of GBV to be treated as urgent.
According to her, Gender gender based violence is a life threatening, global health and human issue that violates international law and the principles of gender equality.
She stressed that failure to address cases of GBV with urgency will lead to a continuous cycle of violence.
Ms. Adah hinted on the major factors contributing to the increasing cases of Gender gender based violence which she listed as; the make-up of the community/ communities and family systems, Gender gender inequality and discrimination.
Participants were advised at the training that in delivering humanitarian services to cases of Gender gender based violence survivors, “it is important that protection of survivors is central”.
Participants were also educated on their primary objective as humanitarian workers and service providers while handling cases of GBV, which is to “alleviate suffering, save lives and maintain human dignity.”
The training however highlighted the community approach as a strategic way to reduce Gender gender based violence to its barest minimum.
Speaking on the event and its partnership with the Ministry of Women Affairs, the Commissioner, Ministry of Women affairs, Mrs Rita Agbo Ayim, stated that the partnership between UNFPA and the ministry was very important especially as the number of gender based violence cases is on the increase in the state.
She averred that the ministry is a mother umbrella and as such, collaborations and partnerships like this training, are always welcomed as they help the ministry to effectively carry out its function especially in addressing cases of gender based violence.
“The Ministry of Women Affairs is the mother umbrella and we are expected to collaborate and work with all partners to ensure that the result is achieved”.
Ayim advised perpetrators of Gender gender based violence to desist from the act as the law would not compromise in dealing with perpetrators.
The Commissioner thanked UNFPA for the training as she maintained that the knowledge acquired would be used by participants to scale up their services in the field.
She urged participants to ensure that they make use of the information learnt to effectively carry provide their services.
“Let us ensure that the impact of this training is felt while we are at the field”. She added.
Speaking during the training, The Head of Office, UNFPA Cross River Sub-office, Calabar, Dr. Omolaso Omosehin, stated that the reason for the training was due to increase in the cases of Gender based violence in the state.
According to him, “one in 3 women have been assaulted globally by a close intimate partner”.
Speaking further, he stressed that in Nigeria, the situation has increased due to the crisis in Cameron.
“Particularly in Cross River State, we have a high number of survivors who have migrated from Cameron. Humanitarian workers and service providers in the field are facing so many challenges, hence, the need for the training.
“We know that humanitarian workers face a lot of challenges trying to see to the needs of the refugees.
“We decided that it was necessary for those who manage GBV survivors as well as refugees are well trained and that is why the training is very important”.
He maintained that the training would help strengthen the capacities of humanitarian workers and GBV service providers in the state.
He disclosed that UNFPA expects participants to train others who were not able to attend the training and put to practice what has been learnt.
