Elochukwu Benjamin
Awka
The Women Empowerment Education and Peace Building Initiative (WEPBI) has launched the ‘Sister Guardian Initiative’ in Isuaniocha and Mgbakwu communities in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State, as part of efforts to combat gender-based violence (GBV).
The initiative, implemented by WEPBI with funding support from the South Saharan Social Development Organisation (SSDO), brings together influential women from the communities to help prevent and respond to cases of violence against women.
Membership of the initiative comprises key women leaders, including the wife of the traditional ruler, Women President-General, Head of Ụmụada, market women leader, as well as representatives of educational and health institutions.
Speaking on the initiative, the Chief Executive Officer of WEPBI, Ijeoma Oguadinma, said the programme was established to reduce the incidence of gender-based violence through community-based action.
According to her, “The Sister Guardian Initiative aims to reduce the incidence of Gender-Based Violence.
“We are establishing this initiative to gather women who will come together to end these acts of violence in their communities.
“We are not going to be everywhere. But when we form this initiative, in solidarity, they will work together to change things and stop these killings and dehumanising of women in their communities.”
Oguadinma explained that members of the initiative had been warned not to take the law into their own hands or resort to confrontation when dealing with cases of GBV.
She urged them to seek the intervention of WEPBI or the Ministry of Women and Social Welfare whenever cases became too complex for them to handle.
She said the women were carefully selected from relevant community-based women groups because of their influence and ability to mobilise people within their respective communities.
“A lot of things gave birth to this project. The spate of gender-based violence, the dehumanisation and the marginalisation,” she said.
Oguadinma also advocated greater protection for women, stressing that victims of persistent domestic violence should not be compelled to remain in abusive relationships.
“We are advocating that women must be protected. It is not a must that an abusive marriage must go on. If the violence is too much, you can separate with your partner,” she said.
She disclosed that WEPBI had conducted mapping exercises and focus group discussions in Awka North, which revealed several harmful practices and cases of violence against women.
According to her, the findings showed that some women were being dehumanised and, in some cases, killed without accountability, prompting the organisation to select Awka North as the pilot Local Government Area for the initiative.
Also speaking, WEPBI’s Communications Officer, Ogechukwu Ewoh, said the initiative was designed around community ownership, with local residents taking the lead in finding solutions to challenges peculiar to their communities.
“The initiative is geared towards ending GBV. One thing that is unique about the initiative is community ownership, where we use the community members to proffer solutions to their peculiar challenges,” Ewoh said.
She explained that WEPBI had embarked on advocacy visits to government authorities, community leaders and other relevant stakeholders to establish partnerships that would facilitate intervention whenever cases of GBV occurred.
According to her, community members were better positioned to address the problem because they understood the “nooks and crannies” of their communities, as well as the prevailing cultural sensitivities.
Ewoh said WEPBI’s interventions were evidence-based, noting that the
organisation conducted research which revealed a significant prevalence of gender-based violence and other harmful practices in the area.
She charged members of the Sister Guardian Initiative to remain committed to their responsibilities and assured them of further capacity-building programmes, to equip them with knowledge on how to work with relevant stakeholders, handle sensitive GBV cases and protect victims from further harm and stigmatisation.
In a goodwill remark, the Founder, Zaram Life Foundation, Miss Eucharia Onyemaobi acknowledged that the initiative is expected to strengthen community-level mechanisms for preventing gender-based violence and improve access to appropriate support and intervention for victims in Isuaniocha and Mgbakwu communities.
She tasked the members to be focused and committed to ensure that they achieve results for their communities.
Mrs. Veronica Okeke, the Women President General Isuaniocha chapter expressed appreciation to the WEPBI for the initiative and expressed the hope that the project will help curb the menace and educate youths who are yet to get married to do the needful.
A representative of the traditional ruler of Isuaniocha, Igwe Sylvester Ngini, Chief Damian, acknowledged the importance of the initiative, adding that getting the women to champion the cause will ensure that it yields better results.
The inauguration of the various chapters of the initiative formed the highpoint of the two-day event.
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