Foundation sensitises men on gender-equitable norms in Sokoto communities
An NGO, Sultan Foundation for Peace and Development (SFPD), on Tuesday, commenced sensitisation of men on proper messaging skills to serve as advocates in the promotion of gender-equitable norms in Sokoto State.
The foundation’s Programme Officer, Alhaji Musa Galadanci, said that the exercise was intended to build men’s capacities to prevent all forms of violence against women and girls (VAWG), sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and other harmful practices (HP).
Galadanci said that participants were from community groups, traditional institutions and individuals in Sokoto North Local Government Area of the state.
He said that the exercise, aimed at encouraging profitable techniques against the GBV occurrences and other detrimental practices, was being supported by EU-UN Spotlight Initiative Project.
Galadanci stressed the need for men to understand SGBV, female genital mutilation (FGM) and Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAAP) Law in relation to daily livings.
He described poor understanding, culture and compromise as part of the challenges militating against tackling the menace in the communities.
The programme officer noted that the programme was to provide opportunity for men to share thoughts on gender- equitable norms and measures to reduce violence against women and girls, drawing insights from their various communities.
The Voice Media Trust (VMT NEWS) reports that the Facilitator, Dr Mansur Isa-Buhari, presented a lecture on categories of GBV, prevalence, consequences, policies and laws as well as referral pathways.
Isa-Buhari, who lectures at Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto, dwelled on the challenges of discriminatory behaviours against the female gender in social norms and actions detrimental to women and girls, especially on domestic duties and educational pursuits.
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According to him, it is necessary to educate people, especially men who are husbands and custodians, on best ways of handling gender equitable norms and GBV cases, supporting survivors and eliminating violence against women and girls.
He also highlighted some forms of psychological, emotional, physical and sexual abuse to women and girls, stressing that poor language of communication had subjected many women to different traumatic experiences.
Isa-Buhari urged men to discourage all forms GBV and other abuses, and serve as vanguards and promoters of gender equitable norms in the society.
He called for increased efforts toward spotlighting prevalence of GBV, Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), FGM, child marriage (CM) and other harmful practices in the state.
Three of the participants, Malam Abdulmalik Buhari, Yahaya Mustapha and Nuradeen Bello, commended the foundation for the programme, saying that they learnt a lot on sexual abuse against girls and women.
They, however, urged the foundation to facilitate the establishment of premarital counseling for a, where people would be trained on marriage rights and responsibilities as well as other lawful provisions in order to reduce hardship faced by women.
VMT NEWS reports that the exercise featured a question-and-answer session and sharing of experiences between participants and facilitators.
Foundation sensitises men on gender-equitable norms in Sokoto communities
