CEWHIN Engages Youths On Prevention of Gender Based Violence Strategies
By Abisola Ariwodola,
Center for Women’s Health and Information CEWHIN has engaged youths in Osun state on prevention of gender based violence strategies to nip the menace in the bud.
The engagement discuss tagged: Consultative forum on prevention of violence against women and girls for youths in Osun state, held at Aenon Suites Conference hall, Osogbo on Wednesday.
At the programme sponsored by Ford Foundation, the youths who were selected from clusters including persons with disabilities, paid attention to details of the programme, determined to end gender based violence in Osun.
In her opening remarks, the Director Center for Women’s Health and Information Mrs Atinuke Odukoya urged the youth to maximise their potential into creating strategies on how to prevent gender based violence against women and girls.
Highlighting to the youths that they have answers on how best to address this issue, she added that the GBV conversation will map out survival for good life in the environment.
Stating that making lifes and environment secure, and protecting the female gender from GBV is achievable, she urged the selected youths at the consultative forum meeting to be the voices of youths in the society and speak their minds.
In his presentation on Identification of Enabling Structures which encourage abuse, the facilitator, Mr Lekan Adedeji urged the youths to
focus on actions, norms, and systems that create opportunities for abuse.
He added that trends such as common saying or slangs among youths such as “sugar daddy” culture, sexting, group chats etc, create space for exploitation and abuse should be avoided.
Urging the youths to imbibe good cultures, he also encouraged them to be wary of leaders, teachers, or influencers who use their position to manipulate young people .
Adedeji who pointed out that school systems, churches, or youth groups at times fail to protect vulnerable youths, he based this on loopholes existing in the systems.
He also emphasised that technology, such as phones, apps, social media is a tool being misused for abuse, as it encourages gender based violence, thereby making GBV hard to control.
The youths were also highlighted on the importance of employment, and playing good roles as ambassadors in the community.
At the interactive consultative forum, the youths who appreciated CEWHIN and Ford Foundation for the programme, responded by charging other youths to be focused, educate others on gender based violence, shun pressure, get employed and while empowering the girls, create strategies to empower the boys too.