Jos, Oct. 18, 2024 (TheGavel) – An NGO, Women for Women International-Nigeria (WfWI-N), has urged traditional rulers in Plateau State to take an active role in combating Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in their communities. The call was made during a two-day capacity-building workshop aimed at equipping traditional leaders with the knowledge and tools necessary to address the alarming rise of GBV.
Speaking at the event on Friday, Mr. Daniel Udeh, Manager of Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning at WfWI-N, emphasized the crucial role traditional institutions play in addressing the menace. The workshop, funded by Ford Foundation, drew participants from Pankshin, Jos East, and Riyom Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Plateau State.
“This workshop is designed to strengthen the capacity of traditional leaders in taking decisive actions against GBV in their respective communities,” Udeh explained. “The goal is sustainability—ensuring that traditional rulers are empowered to continue their efforts long after the initial training.”
Udeh highlighted that harmful cultural norms are one of the primary drivers of GBV and stressed the importance of engaging traditional rulers, as they are the custodians of these cultural practices.
“Involving traditional leaders is a sustainable approach because they have significant influence over the community. As custodians of culture and tradition, their leadership is vital in curbing GBV, especially in rural areas,” Udeh said.
The workshop, which is a follow-up to a similar event held in November 2023, also focused on encouraging traditional leaders to include women in decision-making processes within their domains. According to Udeh, empowering women by including them in councils as advisors or stakeholders is key to addressing issues that disproportionately affect them.
“As part of the commitment from the last training, we expect traditional rulers to establish gender-sensitive councils. This includes appointing gender focal persons within their traditional councils and incorporating women into decision-making roles,” Udeh said. “When women are part of the process, their voices can be heard, and more effective solutions to GBV can be developed.”
The workshop also encouraged participants to disseminate the knowledge gained to their lieutenants and other council members, ensuring widespread awareness across their communities. Udeh noted that the choice of Pankshin, Jos East, and Riyom LGAs for the project was informed by a survey showing high prevalence of GBV in these areas.
In her remarks, Mrs. Bukola Onyishi, the Country Director of WfWI-N, expressed optimism that the workshop would inspire new approaches to tackling GBV and strengthen the commitment of traditional leaders to justice and the protection of vulnerable groups.
“We believe this initiative will deepen the partnership between traditional leaders and stakeholders, fostering meaningful and lasting change,” Onyishi said.
Mr. Sani Suleiman, a facilitator at the workshop, stressed the far-reaching impact of GBV on families and society at large, particularly among the youth, and underscored the urgency of addressing the issue.(NAN)
Dear readers, we really need your support to keep on serving you with authoritative, truthful, and juicy stories everyday. For your support, please reach out to the editor @gavelinternational66@gmail.com