Gender Based Violence: NGO on advocacy visit to traditional rulers, community leaders in Ogun

By Our Correspondent

In order to stem the rise in the gender based violence in the country,     Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (“WARDC”), and Gender Development Initiative  have embarked on advocacy visits to some traditional rulers and community leaders in Ogun State to sensitize them on the negative  effects of GBV in the society.

Salient Times report that the project which is an initiative of  WARDC, a non profit human rights organization, with the partnership of  the Gender Development Initiative in Ogun State, enjoyed the  support of Ford Foundation (a project that covers  Ogun and other states in the South Western region of the country) .

The group according to Professor (Mrs) Olubunmi Ashimolowo, the Executive Director of Gender Development Initiative, adopts advocacy visits to community leaders and key stakeholders to get their buy-in to ending Gender Based Violence (GBV) and declaring Zero Tolerance to GBV in their Communities. 

Part of the strategies used include, Village square meetings during which traditional/religious leaders   demonstrate their condemnation of VAWG (Violence Against Women and Girls), Capacity Building Training for selected  Community Response Team (CRT) members from each community.

Other means also include, Community Dialogue meetings with Stakeholders like Community Leaders, Religious Leaders, Women Groups, Security Personnel,  etc, Awareness creation activities on radio and TV, Simplifying the law (VAPP) into local languages

"Psychosocial Support for survivors through increased reportage of cases of VAWG  

- and many more. 

While on advocacy visit to two communities in Sagamu and Ado-Odo/Ota in Ogun East and West areas of the State, the team led by Mrs. Ademuyiwa Adebimpe, with other supporting staff including

 Miss Omoraka Ifeoluwa and Mr. Soyinka  Abayomi, enlightened the leaders on the effect of gender based violence to the well being of the society.

Chief Soneye Olatoye of Iwelepe Community, Sagamu Local Government Area of the State, Ogun East Senatorial District, of the state, thanked the team for the visit, calling for more collaboration with other stakeholders to stem the rise in GBV in the society.

While condemning GBV, Chief Soneye said "who ever beats a woman such a person has beaten his or her own mother. He assured of his agreement and full support against GBV, he embraced SACVAWG as such declares that GenDi Team should come once again to sensitise CDCA members as well as other stakeholders.

He said the community is willing to continue to support the team while also thanking WARDC for nominating Iwelepe Community as part of the communities that will benefit from the project against GBV, saying that GBV is a trending issue which if not controlled could destabilise the nation.

After GenDi Team was been addressed by Baale and Council of Chiefs of Iwelepe Community the CDCA Leader Pastor OlaOluwa talked to the team, requesting for such visit in a minimum of two or more.

Also while on the field visit, the Team met a woman who claimed to be a victim of GBV and has overcome domestic violence.

The victim while narrating what she went through during the period promised to support the cause.