By Zakariya Musa, EYN Media
Mission 21’s Nigeria Coordination Office in collaboration with Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) and partners, has organized a three-day workshop on “Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment” (PSEAH). The workshop for partner organizations was held on July 18-22 in Jimeta Jola, Adamawa State, Nigeria.
The participants were drawn from various departments, including
- Disaster Relief Management
- Integrated Community Based Development Program
- Theological Education by Extension
- Women’s Fellowship (ZME)
- Association for the Promotion of Natural Medical Resources
- Na Kowa Foundation.
Please pray… For Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria and its ministries and staff. Give thanks for the partnership with Mission 21.
The workshop, which was facilitated by the Mission 21 country coordinator, Yakubu Joseph, assisted by Boniface Arama and Rhoda Isa, had 24 participant in attendance.
The workshop objectives included the following:
— Understand and describe what sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment is.
— Understand the link between power, privilege, and gender-based violence.
— Explain the causes and consequences of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment, and unpack gender and traditional stereotypes as well as how they contribute to its occurrence.
— Expand the knowledge of what is a complaint mechanism and challenges that come with it.
— Know how to report allegations.
— Explain basics of case handling and victims/survivor assistance.
The topic was very new to most of the participants, who were left with zeal to create awareness of gender-based violence, starting from family level. At the end of the workshop, the church structures, such as church sub-groups, IDP camps for displaced people, units, etc., were identified as relevant avenues to conduct step-down workshops with the aim to reach out to a larger audience.
Speaking on behalf of the participants, the director of Integrated Community Development, Yakubu Peter, appreciated the organizers for empowering various development partners in Nigeria. He also encouraged the beneficiaries to make use of the trainings to the benefits of the church and its environs, which has less understanding of the topic and how it brings physical, emotional, psychosocial, or economic consequences, due to cultural or structural perception.
— Zakariya Musa is head of Media for Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria).
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