Community dialogues against violence

Protection

A total of 119 sessions of dialogues have been conducted under the Protection Program across eight community groups in Guriceel. These groups consist of women and men leaders, youth, police officers, service providers, education sector,  and community elders. Most groups have completed ten weeks of discussions and are left with three weeks of discussions before they start planning on sharing what they have discussed and agreed upon with the wider community.

During the first two weeks the discussions were mainly centered on finding a basis of understanding in setting norms, sharing hopes and dreams for a safer community.

The topics of fairness, religion, human dignity, roles, fair rules, empowerment and power triggered strong debates among the youth and women and men leaders’ groups. The women felt they are not given an equal chance to employment, education and power as men. The youth felt they do not have a voice to make a change in the community while the men argued that some cultural and religious inclinations favored men more than women.

When it comes to discussing community and personal beliefs on sexual violence, the main concern was about the increase in sexual violence against women and girls, yet survivors do not get justice due to the weak legal system.

The discussion sessions offered a safe space for participant to share and learn from each other, even on sensitive topics. The story of Amiira a, survivor of sexual violence, was discussed across two groups: community elders and the youth.

A participant from the group said, "It was sad listening to such stories and at the same time enlightening that it happens everywhere. I am touched and feeling guilty as to why we allow such violence to happen to our own girls and women. We have lost humanity in us. We must wake up from this sleep and fight to end such life-threatening violence!”

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