With the mission to reduce Gender Based Violence (GBV) in Cameroon through the SASA Methodology, the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa, CHRDA, has organized a one-day seminar to discuss and improve journalists' and civil societies' knowledge of violence prevention against women and girls through changes in behaviors, practices, and attitudes.
Opening the session, the executive director for CHRDA who also doubles as the project lead elucidated that there are many contributing factors to GBV like gender and culture but power imbalance is one of the main factors which the SASA Methodology has come to solve.
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 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, the Facilitator while explaining SASA Methodology noted that power imbalance stems from opinions and perspectives.
Sally Mboumien, main facilitator
A group work session helped the journalists and representatives of civil society organizations to 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, and financial violence amongst others were discussed upon presentation as cases recorded by these group members though not all handled well.
Madam Sally Mboumien is hampered by the fact that the different loopholes identified like the amicable settlement of rape shouldn't be considered. Denouncing the perpetrator, protecting victims, never asking the why questions, promote sex education were some of the solutions proposed to the loopholes identified.
At the close of the workshop, some participants noted that the workshop has not only empowered them but has also broadened their minds on some of their past actions taken that have 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 in this mechanism learnt.
By Nji Nelson Chefor
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