The Empowering Women for Excellence Initiative (EWEI), has sensitised members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Kaduna State Chapter and commercial tricycle operators, to the dangers of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).
EWEI’s Programme Officer, Mr Mendie Jerimiah, said during the orientation seminar for members of the two associations on Saturday in Kaduna that the sensitisation was under the “We for Them Project”.
Jeremiah said that the project, being Implemented with support from the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF), was to mobilise 4,500 critical stakeholders to curb SGBV in public places in Kaduna state.
Jeremiah, who is also the Secondary Focal Person of the project, said the goal was to mobilise men to stand in the gap and speak out against sexual and gender-based violence.
He said that EWEI was working with NURTW and the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, Kaduna Polytechnic Chapter in implementing the two-year project, 2022 to 2024.
“NURTW and ASUP were selected because they are all male-dominated unions that will play a critical role in ending SGBV in public places in the state.
“We will work with the two unions for the next two years to raise awareness on sexual harassment in motor parks marketplaces and other places and build a network of male advocates against SGBV.
“We will also build their capacity to respond adequately to cases of sexual harassment and violence in motor parks and the polytechnic environment,” he said.
He expressed optimism that at the end of the project, there would be an increased number of men speaking against SGBV.
He also said that at the end of the project, many people would be aware of EWE’s toll-free help line and use it to report SGBV cases or make referrals.
“We also hope to strengthen the SGBV response and reporting mechanism in the unions to ensure adequate health, psychosocial and legal support for survivors of SGBV,” he said.
Jeremiah congratulated the Kaduna State Government for launching the “HeForShe” Campaign, which he said had similar goals with “We For Them project”.
He said that EWEI expected to partner with the HeForShe Campaign, adding that both initiatives involved working with male dominated groups and would make them advocates against sexual harassment and abuse in the state.
The Clerk of the NURTW, Mrs Maryam Bawa, said that the project would support ongoing efforts to curb SGBV in the state.
Bawa acknowledged the incidence of SGBV in motor parks which she said had defied all efforts and expressed optimism that the ” We for Them Project” would make a difference.
Also, Mr Shehu Maiyaki, Child Protection Desk Officer, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), said the rate of gender-based violence was on the increase in the state.
Maiyaki, a Deputy Superintendent Corps of the NSCDC, said stakeholders had been working to curb the trend in motor packs, schools, and other public places.
According to him, the We for Them Project would help significantly in creating the needed awareness among the targeted groups and how they could respond and report GBV cases, using appropriate channels.
Hajiya Sa’adatu Mahmud, Director, Gender Affairs, Ministry for Human Services and Social Development, commended EWEI for the initiative, which she said was timely, considering the rate of SGBV in the state.
“We welcome the partnership and will provide all the needed support to ensure the success of the project,” she said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)