BY NONYELUM EKWENUGO
Kaduna
International Alert Nigeria has trained first responders of Sexual and Gender Based-Violence (SGBV) on psychological first aid in Kaduna State to enable them act to cases of abuse in their communities.
The NGO equipped the community first responders with psychological skills to handle survivors of SGBV in their various communities.
The Project Manager, IA, Sunday Momoh Jimoh during a two-day training of the responders yesterday in Kaduna explained that the aim was to equip responders especially the safe space facilitators in the community with requisite skills to provide care services for SGBV survivors.
According to him, there are certain norms and culture that impede ability of women to speak out as regards to SGBV.
“It is important to collaborate with traditional, religious leaders and security agencies to be able to address most of this norms that prevent people from speaking out”.
Jimoh also harps on the need to increase Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) law awareness in Kaduna State.
The facilitator, Fatima Inusa from Gender Equity and Social Inclusion Officer, however, explained that the training seeks to enhance and promote effective referral pathways for SGBV survivors in Kaduna State.
She also discussed the relevance of consent, its withdrawal, sexual assault, types of child abuse and the psychological effect of domestic violence on a child.
Inusa spoke on interviewing survivors of SGBV, describing a survivor’s trauma and expectations, just as she stressed the importance of providing the necessary psycho-social support for the victim.
She emphasised that the data/evidence collection phase will most importantly determine the success or failure of the case.
The participants Hajia Murjanatu Ismail from Kawo and Juliana Emmanuel from Maraban Rido who spoke on behalf of the participants promised to step down the training in their communities to ensure elimination of SGBV and also break the culture of silence.
