Creating a forum for community members to gather and discuss their concerns about the issues can be a powerful mechanism for bringing people together. A dialogue is usually more informal than a meeting. It is meant to be an open exchange of views and a way of involving community members in the process of communal problem-solving. Dialogues can be presented as consultative or problem-solving meetings or simply as an opportunity for people to speak their mind.
The dialogue was well attended by both old and young in the community. The majority of the attendees were young women and adolescents girls. Other stakeholders, such as the MOWDAFA, local council, governor’s office representatives, legal aid, police, MOJ, IDP committees, elders and sheikhs.
The workshop was attended by 200 participants; the theme of the dialogue was about how people, especially IDPs, can promote campaigns against gender-based violence.
The workshop started with a welcoming note from PSA program Coordinator, he appreciated the community for their attendance. He asked participants to briefly introduce themselves and also made participants know the length of time the dialogue was likely to take.
Objectives
- Deepen participants’ reflection on how women experience daily life in the community.
- Clarify what is meant by the term ‘domestic violence’.
- Examine different types of domestic violence.
- Strengthen participants’ understanding of domestic violence.
- To form common understanding of gender –based violence issues
- To asses and increase our knowledge based on issues of gender based violence
- Come up with empowerment strategies that will sustain issues of GBV
Ground rules
- Respect each other’s opinions
- Reduce movement
- Reduce use of cell phone in the session
- Participation by all
- Use of understandable language
- Observe time
Participants Expectation
- To learn about Gender Based Violence issues
- To bring about changes
- To learn more about Gender Issues
- To come up with strategies that will address Gender Based Violence in their locality
The presentation on the importance of activism and campaigning against gender-based violence (GBV) by Abdihakim Ahmed, was well-received. The participants agreed that reporting violence is a critical step to increasing awareness, reducing tolerance and ensuring justice for victims of violence. This was affirmed by the police department participant, he affirmed that reporting any form of violence to his office. Similarly, MOWDAFA representative implored the community youth to desist from violent acts and risky behaviors that could increase the cases of GBV.
Community members present at the event had the opportunity to share their thoughts with the audience while PSA had a dialogue among them to develop strategies to stop GBV by using different platforms e.g. social media.
In the event also, the women got an opportunity to hold a dialogue between themselves on their experiences in GBV issues, the forum was used by the women to exchange information face-to-face, share personal stories and experiences, honestly express perspectives, clarify viewpoints, and develop solutions to their concerns and opportunities. The platform emphasized listening to deepen understanding by developing common perspectives and goals that allowed participants to express their own stories and perspectives.
Responding to their individual challenges the women agreed that there is a need to build networks and that provide support at the grassroots level, they also indicated a strong interest in continuing with the dialogue more often.
Various presentations were used to help participants to understand the dynamic and complexities of GBV within the community whilst identifying the best way to put an end to this dual epidemic.
The participants learnt about four categories of domestic violence namely.
- Physical (hurts the body)
- Emotional (hurts feelings)
- Sexual (controls sexuality)
- Economic (controls access to money, property, or resources)
To ensure that the participants understand the four categories the facilitator elaborated by giving examples.
The participants were divided into eight groups of 25 each and assigned one category of domestic violence to each group (physical, emotional, sexual or economic) and given 15 minutes to brainstorm all the different acts of violence within that category.
After discussion each group was given time to present their ideas to the other participants. Remove any duplicates. After each group presentation, each group invited the other participants to ask questions or add any acts that were left out.
The dialogue concluded on a high note with participants rejoicing in music while proudly displaying their different campaign placards advocating against gender-based violence.
The participants finally learnt that domestic violence affects the entire community. Because of the violence or its threat, women cannot make free choices about issues that have a deep effect on their lives. For instance a woman’s inability to fully participate in the economic development of her family and the community, keeps her locked in a cycle of poverty exclusion of women from communal and social decision making processes makes the entire community poorer.
RECOMMENDATIONS
- Create a safe house in the community where women in crisis can get help.
- Start mentoring groups where young couples are paired with older ones and taught about conflict resolution and communication skills.
- Help women experiencing violence make safety plans which include what to do, where to go and prepare clothes, money and important documents in case of a crisis.
- Accompany women experiencing violence to seek services.
- Lobby local leaders at their regular meetings to put the issue of domestic violence on their agenda.
- Start a men’s group where men can talk about issues important to them.
- Give ‘health talks’ about domestic violence in the waiting room of health centres.
- Be leaders and resource persons at your workplace to introduce the issue of domestic violence.
- Form groups (of youth, teachers, leaders, women etc.) and go through this training process.
- Conduct door-to-door visits in the community to sensitise people about domestic violence.