Virtual Platform Minutes Week 1: Civil Society for Elimination of Gender Based Violence (CS4EGBV) Project/AFRIHEALTH OPTONET ASSOCIATION

Civil Society for Elimination of Gender Based Violence (CS4EGBV) Project/AFRIHEALTH OPTONET ASSOCIATION

Virtual Platform Minutes Week 1

Week Start 26 /12/20 – Week Ending 02/01/21

Report Compiled by Platform Rapporteur- Faith Mvududu, Zimbabwe

 

Virtual Platform Telegram:

v Suggestions were made concerning the methods of continual eradication of Gender-Based Violence in Communities that are committed due to passion crimes one of them being the establishment of anger management activities, emotional intelligence programs and character development in school curriculums.

v Input was highlighted on the need for the education, training, and protection of the abuse of the boy child, that are suffering in silence, as the focus on Gender Based Violence has largely been focusing on the girl child and women.

v Questions were poised concerning the boy child abuse:

-Can a male/boy child be raped? By who and how?

-Is Gender-Based Violence also a prevailing matter against makes/boys and men?

-Are there any laws safeguarding the Abuse of men/boys? If they are what are the laws?

v Suggestion was made for a serious campaign against boy child and men abuse/rape.

v It was also suggested to have more capacity building initiatives on the unspoken stories of abuse of the boy child and men.

 

 

Virtual Platform WhatsApp:

 

v A the suggestion was made for the need of having a consortium as African CSO's and search out for funding to fight against Gender-Based Violence in the different communities at the national levels.

v The issue of rape of the boy child and men abuse was also raised and it was noted that there is a need for more organizations that protect the male child from abuse and be treated with the utmost confidentiality.

v It was observed that the reason why the girl child and women receive more attention on issues concerning GBV is due to the prevailing circumstances of economic empowerment that most females do not have, as well as culture and the physical anatomy of the female.

v GBV affects both males and females and can occur at any point in life.

v It was noted that most boy child abuse occurs at schools especially boarding schools.

v The suggestion was made for the need for the creation of a database with all Civil Society Organizations in Africa, so that there can be a smooth flow of referrals of situations to the appropriate organization, city, and country.

v In addition, a Terms of Reference should be enacted of the African CSO's fighting against GBV, to be a legally recognized coalition by the governments and global fraternity.

v Platform encouraged to have more participation and innovative ways of making the platforms lively, beneficial, and conducive.

v The suggestion was made on having capacity building initiatives on the use of social media and sending information, which needs to be verified. As unverified information causes unnecessary conflicts and also increases the gender-based violence faced technologically.  The spreading of false information is also an abuse of human rights.

v There is need for comprehensive statistics concerning the increase of ritualistic murders in Africa

v There was a point raised on the most affected by GBV, yet not fully given attention on, which is the GBV experienced by the People with Disabilities and the need for more programs surrounding this cluster.

v There is need for the rearrangement of the GBV programming concerning both males and females, as both sexes are at risk of being potential victims.

v There was a suggestion to work on programs concerning partner abuse that occurs through emotional, mental, financial, and physical abuses.

v There was also a suggestion of bringing programs to the people with disabilities and not them coming to the programs, as their traveling may be limited due to transportation and other hindrances. Inclusion should be enacted in all spheres, forms and ways. -THE END-