Men as Allies: Ending Violence Against Women and Girls
Men as Allies: Ending Violence Against Women and Girls
In North East Nigeria, violence against women and girls (VAWG) profoundly impacts the lives of women and girls, leading to severe psycho-social consequences. Survivors often face both physical and emotional trauma, with unwanted pregnancies being a notable repercussion. These challenges are exacerbated by forced displacement and its associated hardships, such as poverty and restricted access to essential services, compelling women and girls towards harmful coping strategies, including the sale and exchange of sex.
Tackling gender-based violence (GBV) demands a comprehensive strategy that encompasses a multi-faceted approach like policy reforms, educational initiatives, community involvement, and robust social support services. These efforts aim to empower survivors and alter societal attitudes that continue to enable such violence. In response, UNHCR and partners have rolled out a GBV prevention strategy known as Engaging Men through Accountable Practices (EMAP), specifically designed to involve men in the prevention of violence against women and girls.
“To sharpen our response to gender-based violence, UNHCR introduced the EMAP initiative in Borno and Adamawa States—areas deeply scarred by humanitarian crises and where GBV emerges as a critical issue. This training engages humanitarian professionals in the two States with a view of driving a profound shift towards positive behavioural change," says Ms Zelinda Aromorach, UNHCR GBV Officer.
Aisha Abdulrahman, BOWDI Senior Programme Manager.
Recognising the importance of engaging men as allies in the fight against violence against women and girls, EMAP aims to foster positive masculinity and encourage men to become allies in the promotion of the safety and well-being of women and girls. In this regard, UNHCR facilitated a training of trainers’ session designed to equip its staff and those of its partner, Borno Women Development Initiative (BOWDI), with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively engage men in preventing violence against women and girls. Through this training, UNHCR aims to deepen understanding of men's roles as advocates and supporters, ultimately aiming to challenge traditional gender norms and promote positive behavioural change within communities.
This proactive approach is in line with UNHCR's commitment to addressing the root causes of gender-based violence and fostering a more inclusive and protective environment for all, regardless of gender. Integrating EMAP into existing GBV programming demonstrates UNHCR's commitment to enhancing the effectiveness and sustainability of interventions in North East Nigeria.
The training benefited participants like Aisha Abdulrahman, BOWDI Senior Programmes Manager, who says that men’s involvement will fast-track the efforts toward ending GBV. Aisha says men's involvement in the fight against GBV makes them evaluate their actions and enhances their accountability to become allies.
“What bothers me about GBV is that there is no certainty about where and when it will happen. All we can do is prevent it by sensitising the masses and adopting behavioural change interventions like EMAP,” says Aisha.
Engaging and involving men in the fight against GBV also means that they should help ensure that women and girls participate in decision-making and have equal rights to education.
Barrister Hassan Usman in an exercise during the training.
Barrister Hassan Usman, a Programme Officer with BOWDI, advocates for men to embrace roles traditionally reserved for women, asserting this would not diminish their stature. He emphasizes the importance of engaging with men who uphold traditional norms to end violence against women and girls. Usman believes in the necessity of diplomacy and tact to change mindsets and highlights EMAP as a crucial tool for initiating this dialogue.
“What worries me is the fact that there is little I can do alone to reverse the situation and help survivors and their families. We must, therefore, combine forces to ensure that support is effectively given and that engaging men begin to make them accountable to women and girls to create a GBV-free community,” he concludes.