August 23, 2024, Kanchanpur
Community Level Dialogues and Group Meetings for Discussion Regarding Gender-Based Violence in the Municipalities of Krishnapur and Shuklaphanta
Community level dialogue was carried out aimed at discussing on the roles of the community people for prevention and protection on gender-based violence on June 29, 2024 at Krishnapur Municipality. Saathi with the support of GOAL project facilitated the sensitization of the participant on SGBV and encourage their active involvement on making a community where there is no discrimination. FGD revealed that socio-cultural factors behind gender discrimination and the Impacts on women and girls. The Ward Chairperson, Mr. Arjun Singh Saud, clarified the commitment of the Ward Office to make gender mainstreaming and urged all to come together against GBV. The discussion that had participation of 32 local leaders, representatives affiliated to different community and stakeholders.
Likewise, a program was conducted on August 9, 2024 in Shuklaphanta Municipality with 30 people to engage them in their pivotal role in GBV prevention. They reflected harmful practices, polygamy, early marriage, and stereotyped gender. Health personnel had also been emphasized in the effect of GBV on women’s health. Acting Ward Chairperson Shanti Air had urged all to become responsible to end gender-based discrimination and violence, and stressed that there should be the strong collaboration between the Ward Office and Saathi to minimize workplace-related issues.
Empowerment of Women and Adolescents in GBV Prevention
Saathi also held an orientation for stakeholders, particularly women’s groups in Shuklaphanta Municipality on July 12, 2024, on addressing their roles in GBV prevention. The event was attended by 35 people, who were informed of the importance and necessity of local-level coordination in violence prevention and women’s empowerment through the understanding of gender issues. Women’s Group Chair Bhagirathi Sunar responded to the training event with a pledge to advance a campaign to raise awareness of GBV in the community.
Follow-up program with the women’s group on July 20, 2024 in Krishnapur municipality reinstated, again, the importance of roles played by women in GBV prevention. There are 20 participants who talked about the causes of gender discrimination and how economic empowerment could help them and working together with local government for the violence.
Child Clubs Tackle Gender Stereotypes
Saathi also conducted a session on July 17, 2024 with the Child Club in Krishnapur Municipality to sensitize adolescents on gender stereotypes, discrimination, and violence. Harmful practices like dowry and child marriage were specifically identified as some of the causes behind GBV by the 25 participants in the session. They furthermore discussed the role of advocacy, campaigns, and support from the security forces to help address such incidents. Further Engaging Women and Youth in GBV Prevention.
In the Shuklaphanta Municipality, Saathi continued their efforts by holding two programs with child clubs on 3 August & 23 August 2024. The first and second events attracted 18 and 22 participants, respectively, in endeavors that sought to enable adolescents to learn about gender discrimination and violence. The issue of child rights and how it was affecting children negatively through stereotyping and how they could plead to teachers, parents, and local leaders about the prevention of GBV were during discussions. These efforts are going on as part of the commitment of Saathi to ensuring the social equality of gender and eliminating GBV through its community-based approach in the Krishnapur and Shuklaphanta municipalities.
These initiative is part of Saathi’s ongoing program, Generating Ownership Awareness & Liberation (GOAL): From Harmful Gender Stereotypes and Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), supported by AEIN Luxembourg. The three-year GOAL program has been instrumental in raising awareness and educating communities, particularly women and adolescents, about the detrimental effects of gender stereotypes and SGBV. Through community-level dialogues, group meetings, and sensitization sessions, Saathi aims to empower individuals to take an active role in preventing gender-based violence and fostering gender equality in the municipalities of Krishnapur and Shuklaphanta.
