Category: Sister Guardian

One reason why violence against women, especially at the community level, seems to be a non-ending cycle is that often, the perpetrators of these heinous acts are not made to face the wrath of the law. The victims or the community sometimes protect them. And in other cases, victims don’t know how to protect themselves under the purview of the law. 

Understanding the place of the law and people knowing their rights in curbing gender-based violence, South Saharan Social Development Organization conducted a one-day workshop for 37 women of the Sister Guardian executives from the 19 communities where the project is currently running. The women comprised the presidents and secretaries of each chapter of the initiative. 

The workshop aimed to build the capacity of the Sister Guardians on the provision of the constitution on violence against women and the associated punishment. The Sister Guardian toolkit was also reviewed and unanimously validated for adoption. The Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) law was also reviewed to help the women be well-rounded in tackling gender-based violence cases. 

It also focused on the following: 

• To incorporate the knowledge in the course of their work in the community and also step down their learnings to community members
• The documentation of the cases adjudicated in the case registers provided by SSDO

Going forward, this workshop will better serve the Sister Guardians to better advocate, mediate, and proffer solutions to gender-based violence cases they deal with.

Achievements:

l  Built the capacity of 37 executive members of the Sister Guardian women (presidents and secretaries) on the aims and objectives of the SGI, rationale behind the selection of communities and composition of the executive membership and its work in relation to knowledge and access to human rights

l   Reviewed the Sister Guardian Toolkit document to unanimously validate it for adoption

l  General review of the VAPP law as enshrined in the 1999 Nigeria constitution as amended  

l  Practical revision on the documentation of the Sister Guardian case register

Challenges: 

The women complained that one of the difficulties they face in functioning effectively in their different communities is the inability to involve the police in some of the matters they adjudicate on that needs police attention.

Recommendations:

During the review of the Sister Guardian Toolkit, the women made the following recommendations on chapter 4 [Conflict Resolution] page 10 on the section that talks about “matters Sister Guardian can mediate on”. The women identified cases they adjudicate which were not captured in the Toolkit, and they include:

Human trafficking 

The threat of murder from the spouse

Parental murder 

Young men impregnating young women and refusing to marry them

The burden of women catering to the family alone cause hitches in the marriage

Disallowing women to see their children during separation

The Sister Guardian Initiative (SGI) is a South Saharan Social Development Organization’s flagship on reducing violence against women at the community level. The Sister Guardian Initiative, which is currently implemented in 19 communities in Enugu and Anambra State taps into existing community-based women groups to identify women, referred to as Sister Guardians (SG), who are willing to stand in the gap and advocate for other women facing different kinds of abuse. They are majorly drawn from the circle of influential women in the community for instance: the Traditional rulers’ wives, Political women leaders, Religious women leaders, Umuada women leaders, Market women leaders etc.

These SGs provide the immediate support to female victims of violence – safety, counseling, mediation with the husband and family members and when it is necessary for the cases to be referred to the police and other relevant agencies for the women, they support the women in prosecuting their case either at the community level with the extended family and village authorities, or the police and courts as the case may be, ensuring the women are never alone. In addition, they advocate against violence against women (VAW) at the community level and also educate women and the community at large on their civic responsibilities. 

Beyond combating gender-based violence, one goal of the Sister Guardian Initiative is to build a strong women executive that wields enough influence to advocate and adjudicate for women’s rights in the community.

To achieve unity and cohesion among the team members, it is important to also support each other in their grieving times.

South Saharan Social Development Organization financially supported the members of a bereaved family who lost their wife and mother, who is a member of the Sister Guardian community in Orokoro community. The initiative was also able to support a family in Eke community as well.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the families in this trying time.

We understand the place of advocacy in seeing a behavioral change in communities. Particularly concerning the reduction of gender-based violence. It helps to promote human rights, social inclusion, equality, and social justice.

Understanding its importance in executing the Sister Guardian Initiative, South Saharan Social Development Organization, SSDO places a premium on advocacy to bring about the much-needed change of reducing violence against women.

SSDO’s Gender Officer, Blessing Uchendu, embarked on an advocacy visit to the traditional rulers of Aduachi and Ihenyi communities to ascertain the level of inclusion and participation of women in their cabinet. The traditional rulers confirmed that the women are actively involved in the decision-making processes of the traditional ruling council.

We appreciate the efforts of these traditional rulers for being forward-minded. Women’s involvement in the traditional council will provide a unique perspective that the leaders would have otherwise not seen.

South Saharan Social Development Organization (SSDO) Organizes a Workshop through its Sister Guardian Initiative (SGI) to Commemorate the 2022 International Women’s Day

THEME: Strengthening Local Institutions’ Capacity to Combat Gender-based Violence(GBV). 

A report on the Sister Guardian Initiative Workshop held on the 8th of March 2022 on “Strengthening Local Institutions’ Capacity to Combat Gender-Based Violence”. 

Introduction 

The Sister Guardian Initiative (SGI) is a South Saharan Social Development Organization‘s flagship project on reducing violence against women at the community level. The initiative provides the immediate support that female victims of violence require— safety, counseling, mediation, and referrals to other relevant agencies as the case may demand. The SGI is presently in 17 communities across Enugu and Anambra states. 

International Women’s Day is a global day to celebrate women’s socioeconomic, cultural, and political achievement. It is also a unique opportunity for women to rally and advocate for equal treatment and representation. Since the inception of the SGI in 2016, SSDO has organised an educational event geared towards women’s empowerment. This year was no different as a workshop was held to create more awareness on the effect of gender-based violence and rally relevant stakeholders on the need to enforce GBV laws.

The workshop featured participants drawn from 15 communities where the initiative has been executed. They include traditional rulers, President Generals, women leaders, government representatives and a representative of the Gender Unit Desk Officer of the Enugu State Police Headquarters. 

Objectives 

• Highlight the effect of gender-based violence on women and the community. 
• Educating the audience on GBV laws. 
• Developing actionable steps and strategies for better synergy between the Sister Guardian leaders and relevant stakeholders—traditional rulers and Police. 

The project lead, Blessing Uchendu, was on the ground to detail the project’s journey thus far. “Since its inception, the chapters have supported over 1300 victims with counselling, conflict mitigation, temporary shelter and referrals to law enforcement or health facilities.” 

Going forward, she also explained the plans of the project. “To achieve more with the project, we have to keep advocating for community leaders to understand the effect of GBV and partner with the Sister Guardians to resolve cases efficiently as well as capacity building.” 

“It is also important that by-laws are enforced. This would dissuade perpetrators from abusing victims. We also believe that a working synergy between the Sister Guardians and the Police will give more credence to the effort of the women leaders.” 

A documentary that captures the success of the initiative was also viewed. Helping the audience better understand the effects of gender-based violence on the victims and the community. It also showed victims sharing their stories and how the initiative helped them. It detailed the project’s successes across different communities and its plans going forward. 

Mr Larry Oguego, National Coordinator, Human Rights Volunteer Corps of Nigeria, the lead speaker of the event, presented a paper on “Preventing Sexual and Gender-based Violence: How Community Leaders and Stakeholders Can Leverage the Law to Drive Change.” He analysed the various laws that address GBV issues, the roles of community leaders and stakeholders, and how they can be the voice of advocacy.

Recommendations 

The following recommendations were proposed during the workshop to reduce GBV: 

• Schools should include Gender equality and other gender-related issues in the school curriculum. 
• Cascading the workshop to town hall meetings in various communities, the message reaches the grassroots. 

Conclusion 

In conclusion, the highlight of the conference emphasized the importance and the role of local institutions in combating gender-based violence. When laws are upheld by the community leaders and enforced by the Police, there will be a drastic reduction in GBV cases. Perpetrators will be dissuaded from continuing the atrocious acts of violence against women. 

The outcome of this conference saw a more enlightened audience know their rights, know the effect of GBV on victims and the community. It also created a linkage and opportunities for collaboration between sister guardian leaders and relevant stakeholders.