The Programs Manager of Hope For the Needy Association HOFNA CAMEROON has expressed satisfaction with the interest shown by men in understanding issues around gender based violence.Munteh Florence shared her observations in an interview with Hilltopvoices at the close of five workshops organised in the North West, West, South West, Littoral and Center regions of Cameroon by HOFNA CAMEROON. Talking to Hilltopvoices Fawah Agather M, she made the following evaluation of the trainings which brought together over 100 teenage mothers, internally displaced women and over 400 community leaders. The participants also gathered practical skills on soap production and needing and went home with some start-up material provided by HOFNA CAMEROON with the support of the German mission in Cameroon.
Munteh Florence: The training sessions have been very interactive, engaging and open for all. Meaning all felt free and safe to share and participate. We realised most men are eager to learn more about what Violence against Women and girls is and the part they can play to end GBV.
In terms of interest and subject each region have their peculiarities and realities but common in all places, gbv is still a reality in all communities, under repporting is still the order of the day, communities still hace not known they have the responsibility to hold pepetrators accountable hence voilence continues.
Common among IDPs accross all places is Rape , sexual harassment and trafficking
Munteh Florence: All communities have a exprressed comcerns with access to justice for victims and corupt Judicial processes that discourage people to speak out and bring perpetrators to book.
All communities excited to have a Gender Violence Survival Suppprt Network Team in communities to facitate reporting and referals
Munteh Florence: Interestingly, participants still look for ways to justify or cover acts of violence, in the name that it is perpetrated by family members. This shows that there is still a lot of education and sensitization to be done if we must break the silence around GBV and reduce it in all its forms.
The issue of blame game, including for example blaming a woman for not satisfying the husband hence the reason why the husband rapes his children. This continues to justify GBV and make conducive environments for it to thrive.
The level of ignorance when it comes to identifying forms of GBV. We saw community members learning about forms of GBV for the first time, even forms of violence happening to them. While others are taking information om GBV for granted, other communities have never heard about it all.
FA Hilltopvoices: What is your evaluation of the training sessions?
Munteh Florence: The training sessions have been very interactive, engaging and open for all. Meaning all felt free and safe to share and participate. We realised most men are eager to learn more about what Violence against Women and girls is and the part they can play to end GBV.
In terms of interest and subject each region have their peculiarities and realities but common in all places, gbv is still a reality in all communities, under repporting is still the order of the day, communities still hace not known they have the responsibility to hold pepetrators accountable hence voilence continues.
Common among IDPs accross all places is Rape , sexual harassment and trafficking
FA Hilltopvoices: ould you do a comparison in terms of interest on the subject matter across the different regions?
Munteh Florence: All communities have a exprressed comcerns with access to justice for victims and corupt Judicial processes that discourage people to speak out and bring perpetrators to book.
All communities excited to have a Gender Violence Survival Suppprt Network Team in communities to facitate reporting and referals
FA Hilltopvoices: What are some of the reactions from participants that moved you most?
Munteh Florence: Interestingly, participants still look for ways to justify or cover acts of violence, in the name that it is perpetrated by family members. This shows that there is still a lot of education and sensitization to be done if we must break the silence around GBV and reduce it in all its forms.
The issue of blame game, including for example blaming a woman for not satisfying the husband hence the reason why the husband rapes his children. This continues to justify GBV and make conducive environments for it to thrive.
The level of ignorance when it comes to identifying forms of GBV. We saw community members learning about forms of GBV for the first time, even forms of violence happening to them. While others are taking information om GBV for granted, other communities have never heard about it all.
We met community members who learnt about gender-based violence, Beijing Platform for Action and especially UNSCR1325 for their very first time. This limits action and their effective participation in peace building especially at the grassroots.
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