Bamenda: Women Leaders Embrace New Methodology in Combating GBV

 

                                     

With the mission to reduce Gender Based Violence (GBV) in Cameroon through the start, awareness, support, action, SASA Methodology, the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa, CHRDA, has organized a one day seminar to discuss and improve Women's knowledge on violence prevention against women and girls through changes in behaviours, practices and attitudes. This was in a day workshop that took place at Common Action for Gender, COMAGEND office on Saturday May 7th 2021.


Opening the session, the executive director for CHRDA Fokum Violet who also doubles as the project lead elucidated that there many contributing factors to GBV like gender, culture but Power imbalance is one of the main factors which the SASA Methodology has come to solve.


Executive Director CHRDA, Fokum Violet.

The Methodology which was first implemented in Uganda seeks to work with both sex while helping actors against GBV do an auto-critic of their actions towards ending GBV in their communities, identify loopholes and change their action plan.

" SASA helps us to identify some of the mistakes we have been doing as actors against GBV.We don't blame but rather help these actors work in that process of realizing a change or way of doing to things. We want to see if this strategy can cause change or reduce the level of Violence against women and girls"  Fokum Violet Said.


Sally Mboumien, Facilitator and Founder of Common Action for Gende Development -COMAGEND, Cameroon while expounding on the SASA Methodology noted that power imbalance stems from opinions and perspectives. 

Facilitator, Sally Mboumien.

A group work session helped the women identify some of the actions they might have taken that have increased the level of Violence against women and propose solutions.Cases of rape, sexual reproductive health violations, financial violence amongst others were discussed upon presentation as cases recorded by these group members though not all handled well.


Madam Sally Mboumien hampered on the fact that the different loopholes identified like amicable settlement of rape shouldn't be considered. Denouncing the perpetrator, protect victims, never ask the why questions, promote sex education were some of the solutions proposed to the loopholes identify.


Group session.

At the close of the workshop some participants noted that the workshop has not only empowered them but has also broaden their minds on some of their past actions taken that has further promoted GBV like settlements of rape cases amicably. While promising to continue their work in a manner that will reduce cases of GBV, the participants also noted that other women in their communities will be engaged on these mechanism learnt.



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