CEEC with support from CPS/GIZ carried out a four days’ gender based violence prevention and response training for Tarakwa village elders from 5th – 8th October, 2015 at Deliverance Church Burnt Forest. This was under the project titled,” Building the capacity of village elders to prevent and appropriately respond to gender based violence”.During the training a total of 31 village elders were trained including the chief and his assistant.
The main objective of this training was to make the elders understand the dynamics involved in Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and particularly the connection between flawed masculinities and GBV. Topics covered included Gender Concepts, Masculinities, forms, types and consequences of GBV as well as legal responses to GBV among others. An expert on alcoholism was also invited to talk to the elders about alcohol and drug abuse which are two vices that are closely related to GBV. Due to the high incidence of GBV committed against minors particularly defilement, early pregnancy and early marriage, a children’s officer was invited to help the elders understand children’s rights better.
The elders appreciated the training which opened their eyes to the fact that they were not presiding over cases in the right way due to limited capacity. They undertook to use the newly acquired knowledge and skills to ensure all members of the community including women and girls enjoyed their rights and where these rights were violated they got the necessary redress.
Click here to view the photos.