By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
A non Governmental organization (NGO), Society for Women and Girl Child Empowerment (SWOGE) has targeted some selected internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps in Adamawa State with the sole aim of reducing sexual based violence (SBV).
To achieve this aim, SWOGE organised a two-day workshop/ orientation in its corporate office in Yola that will see to the Implementation of Community Based Organizations (CBOs) plans in fighting gender based crimes.
SWOGE Director, Mrs Lauretta Charles during the workshop, told our correspondent that they are actually fostering a coalition of women, youth groups, CBOs in the reduction of sexual based violence (SBV) in selected IDP camps, host communities in Yola South, Yola North and Girei local government areas in Adamawa State to achieve the organization’s aim.
According to Charles, SWOGE with support from British Council/EU/ ACT will be implementing Its Our Concern Project (ICP Project) in Malkohi and Damare IDP Camps and their surrounding communities at a sooner possible time.
While calling the attention of participants to see the need in fighting domestic crime related to SBV, she said SWOGE’s primary purpose and mission of society is:
“To promote and protect human rights, women’s rights, gender equity, good governance and sustainable change through empowerment of women, girls and community based organizations (civil societies) and promotion of access to justice and rule of law.
“To develop human capacity and promote cooperation, partnerships and networks between women led and women focused civil society organizations (CSOs), while providing services targeted at bringing sustainable change in Nigeria.”
She revealed that SWOGE is currently working with ACOMIN overseeing 16 CBOs activities under its community led Monitoring Malaria Project across eight local government areas in the state.
“It’s Our Concern Project concept apart from promoting IDP women and girls’ human rights and equity, will also strengthen and empower new women led and Youth Community Based Organizations in selected local government areas.
The project officer, Mr. Chahandi Andrew Lumbonyi during the orientation, enlightened the participants that the project will contribute towards reducing sexual based violence incidents and burden in selected IDP camps and host communities.
“The project will initiate and build a coalition and network of women led CBOs with focus on Sexually Based Violence (SBV) to bring interventions, and to also initiate community structures to promote community engagement and ownership in addressing sexual and gender based violence.” Lumbonyi said.
