Sexual Gender-based violence (SGBV) is violence that is directed at an individual based on his or her biological sex and gender identity. It includes physical, sexual, verbal, emotional, and psychological abuse, threats, coercion, and economic or educational deprivation, whether occurring in public or private life. SGBV is one of SUWA’s thematic areas; with the high rate of SGBV in our society presently that brings to bear SUWA’s expertise and initiatives working with Donors to see how this can be curbed.

In doing this, we organize awareness programs, train people as Gender Champions who serve as a “VOICE” in our communities through Community dialogue sessions, ensure Action Committees are in place in our implementing communities who help to combat cases timely working with the appropriate authorities and synergizing with our referral centers.

We have had several training sessions organized for Gender Champions, Government establishments, Teachers, Students, Women and girls across Benue, Plateau and Kaduna States. We train survivors of SGBV on Income Generating Activities and Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLA), we organize journey to Healing session (Trauma Healing) and conduct dialogue sessions in Schools.

With all of our sensitization programs, we have been able to reach a wider audience and more people want to be associated with our work in our target communities.

In this first half of the year, we have trained 409 Women on the VSLA, 66 Uniform men, 22 students/teachers, 7 people on Journey to Healing session, 36 Gender Champions and 754 people participated in the Community Dialogue sessions.