A five-day training to equip local actors in West and Central Africa with the skills to combat gender-based violence (GBV) has been held in Cotonou, Benin.
The programme organized by the Women, Youth Peace and Security Institute of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) with funding from the Sweden International Development Agency (SIDA).
It brought together 29 participants from Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), legal practitioners, the media, religious leaders and traditional authorities in the Republic of Benin.
The programme, dubbed, Enhancing the Capacity of Local Actors to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence in Benin, aligns with the UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (WPS). It sought to sought to equip facilitators who act as key figures in resolving gender-based violence (GBV) with the knowledge and skills to prevent and respond to GBV, while also raising awareness within local communities and among leaders to combat GBV.
It explored the existing legal frameworks, such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women (DEVAW), while highlighting the critical role of local actors in promoting a culture of peace, equality, and respect for all.
Officials of the KAIPTC say the training recognizes the growing understanding of the links between poverty, insecurity, and GBV, particularly in the context of limited capacity of local actors and low prosecution rates in many communities across the sub-region.
Speaking at the opening of the training, the Director of the Women’s Youth Peace and Security Institute (WYPSI) of KAIPTC, Mrs Patience Agyare-Kwabi emphasized the importance of building the capacity of local actors and its importance to the reduction on GBV.
She noted that empowering individuals and communities, KAIPTC aims to foster stronger advocacy and education efforts to combat GBV.
“This initiative aligns with the KAIPTC’s broader strategic objective of supporting African nations in implementing the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol) and the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security,” Mrs Agyare-Kwabi said.
She also underscores the collective responsibility of all to create a future free from violence, discrimination, and fear for all women and girls across Africa.
The fight against GBV, she stressed require a multifaceted approach, and “this program is to help you as local actors to play a vital role in achieving lasting change in your communities and country as a whole,” she said.
Mrs. Agyare-Kwabi encouraged participants to actively engage in the training and translate the acquired knowledge into concrete actions within their communities.
She remains hopeful that the training would enhance individual knowledge, foster positive attitudes, and encourage teamwork among local actors, ultimately creating a more comprehensive approach to preventing GBV, leading to a safer future for women and girls.
Benin
The President of the National Platform on Religious Affairs, Sa Majeste’ Dada Daagbo, in his remarks commended KAIPTC for the initiative.
Gender based violence in most communities, he said, often go unreported owing to the fear of victimization of the victims.
He added that the workshop allows participants to deepen their knowledge appropriate to preventing GBV in their communities.
Sa Majeste’ Daagbo who is one of the most important figures in the Voodo religion in West Africa, also highlighted the need for awareness creation on this very important subject, saying, “I would like to encourage the KAIPTC to endeavour to translate the key learning points from the training into the local languages of the countries where the project is taking place so as to helped with sustained awareness.”
The President of the Family Nutrition Development, an NGO dedicated to GBV issues in Benin, Myriam Capo-Chichi in her remarks noted that while Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Benin have invested in eradication strategies, Gender-Based Violence (GBV) continues to rise at an alarming rate, with women and girls being the primary targets.
She emphasized that the training’s effectiveness will depend on the efforts and contributions of local actors committed to eradicating this scourge.
She expressed hope that the knowledge gained from the training will significantly improve the situation.
Madame Capo-Chichi also recommended that KAIPTC and WYPSI hold more of these sessions to reach a wider audience and contribute more effectively to the eradication of GBV.