35 Women groups trained on Sexual and Gender based violence in Adamawa

35 Women groups trained on Sexual and Gender based violence in Adamawa

Gender

By Muhammad Adam

Yola, March 5, 2020 (NAN) No fewer than 35 women groups across Adamawa have been trained on how to reduce sexual and gender based violence in their communities.

Mrs Umma Rimi, of Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA), disclosed this during the one-day training organised by Spotlight Initiative on Thursday in Yola.

Rimi, who is the National Project Assistant of Spotlight Initiative, said that the training was implemented by WRAPA and funded by the European Union.

“The project is implemented to work on Sexual and Gender based violence and to educate the participants on how to reduce negative social norms against women.

“The participants would also be equipped on how to identify and report sexual and gender violence at the grassroots,’’ Rimi said.

She further stated that the project was being implemented in Adamawa, Sokoto State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

According to Rimi, Nigeria, is characterised by gender inequality in most areas of human development and ranks 118 out of 134 countries on the Gender Equality Index.

She worried that gender based violence was widespread and 30 per cent of women aged between 15 and 49 years, had reported experiences of sexual abuse.

“Nigeria has the largest number of child brides in Africa and one of the highest prevalence rates in the world.

“Twenty three million girls and women were married off as children. Currently, 43 per cent of girls married before the age of 18 years and 17 per cent married before they turned 15.

“Nigeria also accounts for the third highest number of women and girls who went through female genital mutilation, which is also reported at 25 per cent prevalence.’’

In his remarks, Mr. Samuel Yugoro, State Coordinator of WRAPA, said that the aim of the capacity training was to impact knowledge on the women groups at the grassroots on how to identify and report any sexual and gender based violence.

Yugoro noted that the rate of sexual and gender based violence in the state was alarming, with about 200 rape cases recorded in 2019.

“The participants were selected and trained in order to go back to their communities that are not well informed about sexual and gender violence.

“We hope that from what they learnt during the training, they will be able to sensitise and create more awareness in their communities,’’ Yugoro said. ( NAN)

AMA/DOR

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Edited by Nyisom Fiyigon Dore