Effective communication has over the years had an impact on the growth and development of humans and societies at large. In this effect, the Center for human rights and Democracy in Africa held an evaluation and monitoring workshop on 25th November 2021 to educate actors against Gender Based violence on how they can effectively communicate the Start, Awareness Support Action SASA methodology in their communities to impact change.
The capacity building workshop which took place at the CBC Hall Mile 3 Nkwen Bamenda, had Ndum Chalotte, a girls' right activist and a representative of CESCOMPSUP's Coordinator Madam Rosaline Obah as one of the facilitators. While highlighting the different communication strategies that can be used to effectively pass out the SASA message amongst which are advocacy, behavioral change, youth generational change, she noted that the SASA methodology has been a success and these communication strategies will be a plus to ending violence against women in communities.
" The SASA methodology has been proven and tested. I believe if we use this communication strategies to do more work when it comes to SASA, violence against women could gradually be a thing of the past"
At a time when activists and advocates are commemorating the sixteen day activism against Gender Based violence, Ngum Lizette believes if communication is done the right way then violence would reduce.
" we need to learn how to communicate right. Because when you tell a woman that she should speak up when she is abuse and you don't tell her that it's wrong for her to compare herself to a man then the communication is not complete. Both parties should complement each other"
To a GBV male advocate, these communication techniques will surely go a long way to communicate to people in way that they will understand without creating harm.
The workshop which is in commemoration of the 16 day activism , evaluates participants' knowledge and implementation of the SASA methodology, train them on different communication strategies, was also an avenue for participants to share their experiences on the field using the SASA methodology. Assessing how far these trainees have gone to implement the SASA methodology with the aim of preventing violence against women, the executive director CHRDA Fokum Violet says they are still at the second stage.
Dr. Fokum Violet, Executive Director CHRDA
''They have gone through the first and second stage start and Awareness and are now at the level of support because they are issues that are against the rights of both parties and now, we are the stage to support actions that will end violence against women and girls in communities".
By Pechuqui Laurata in Bamenda.
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