Fight Against SGBV Cannot be Won Without Involving Men – Miss Khadijah

The fight against Sexual and Gender Based Violence has seen various twists and turns, with the introduction of a myriad of strategies and innovation over the years.

The angle, perhaps not given adequate attention, is the involvement of men and young men, as key stakeholders in the fight.

This is why the “KASA! Ending Sexual Violence” Project, being implemented by the Savannah Women Integrated Development Agency (SWIDA–Ghana), seeks to rope in men and young men who are found at an advantaged position and have the power to perpetuate more of gender based violence, to become ‘Champions’ to help in spreading messages and leading the fight against SGBV in communities.

At a Capacity Building Workshop for KASA! Male Champions at SWIDA Ghana’s office, project lead, Khadijah Abdul Samed indicated that over the years, men and young men are almost left behind in the course of preventing Sexual and Gender Based Violence, which has contributed to slowing the success of the fight.

According to her, when the man is made aware of his role towards protecting his sister or daughter from abuse, he will much likely not abuse another person’s sister or daughter.

The ‘Male Champions’, are being encouraged to be keepers of the community to prevent SGBV, instead of being perpetrators or at least looking on for perpetrators to destroy the future of young girls.

Miss Khadijah added that men and young men are mostly only considered as perpetrators and are sought after, after an incident, instead of them being seen as tools to preventing the acts, where they must be sensitized and made to in fact, lead the campaign against SGBV.

Drawing a scenario for why there is the need for men and young men to be made a center of the fight, the project lead said if all the focus is given to the girl, she will be empowered all right, but society must remember that she most likely will not be abused by herself or another female, so the act can still occur because the potential perpetrator has been left out of the process.

The “KASA! Ending Sexual Based Violence” project overall, is being implemented in 10 educational institutions within Tamale Metropolitan and Sagnarigu Municipal areas.

The project is aimed at through periodic training, producing 200 female advocates in SGBV across the target educational institutions, after which the advocates would be expected to support their communities in sensitization drives to end SGBV.

Hajia Alima Sagito-Saeed who is the Executive Director for SWIDA-Ghana called on the Male Champions to serve as “guards” for the vulnerable girls in their various communities, so as to deter men who abuse girls either sexually or physically.

According to Hajia Alima, finding perpetrators of SGBV and getting them prosecuted is a good step, but the ultimate objective of every stakeholder, should be to prevent the act from occurring.

Psychologist and resource person at the workshop, Mr. Peter Amadu drew the attention of the Male Champions to the hazards caused to girls emotionally and psychologically, after an abuse.

He, also, therefore called on the men to help in preventing SGBV, but not to allow for it to happen, after which they then play the role of searching for perpetrators and getting them prosecuted.

Activities under the project include sensitizing the public against sexual violence through radio and social media, as well as sensitizing healthcare professionals and law enforcement officers to improve services for survivors of sexual violence and holding perpetrators accountable.

A Whatsapp platform has been created where the Male Champions share ideas and raise issues they come across on SGBV, for discussions on prevention and/or reporting for possible prosecution.

Various strategies were raised from the perspectives of the Male Champions, which the project team is fusing into the broad activities to inform innovation for implementation.

The “KASA! Ending Sexual Violence” is a two-year project, from 2022 to 2024 and is funded by the African Women Development Fund (AWDF).