Shine a Light Campaign, Liberia – Educating Students about Sexual Violence
Gender-based violence (GBV), as its name suggests, is the perpetuation of violence against a person because of their gender. It’s also one of the least recognized and most under-reported barriers to child development and survival. ChildFund is dedicated to the protection of children from all forms of physical, sexual and psychological violence, coercion and exploitation. GBV is a particularly insidious type of harm inflicted on children because often times it is embedded within cultural norms, and thus becomes both tolerated and accepted.
A particularly damaging form of GBV is Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). FGM is a violent, traumatising procedure that violates the human rights of millions of women and girls worldwide. According to a recent report, as many as 130 million girls and women have been harmed by FGM in the 29 countries across Africa and the Middle East, where it is especially prevalent. Despite the fact that the majority of women in these countries think the practice should be eradicated, it is estimated that a staggering 30 million girls are at risk of FGM before the age of 15 (UNICEF 2014). ChildFund Ireland, as a member of the Irish Consortium on Gender Based Violence, wants to see the elimination of this barbaric practice, and ensure the protection of all children from GBV.
ChildFund actively supports the promotion of GBV awareness, and the damage it can cause to the lives of young girls and women everywhere. ChildFund’s ethos is to avoid a top down panacea, instead dedicating itself to working organically within communities to address issues of concern affecting the well-being of children and their careers. One mechanism that has been developed by ChildFund to engage with people in places where GBV may be particularly embedded in local culture is through its Shine a Light programme.
Launched in 2012, Shine a Light is a bold and imaginative initiative that seeks to raise awareness of GBV and counter negative stereotyping through tailored educational plans. It is designed to tackle the kind of embedded cultural norms and values that allow GBV to become normalised, and to thrive. The programme targets four countries; Dominica, Indonesia, Liberia and Senegal. The project’s goal is to raise awareness of gender-based violence, to assist child survivors of sexual abuse and help communities develop child-protective systems and responses.
The nature and causes of gender-based violence (GBV) vary across the four countries, so ChildFund tailored the program in each territory accordingly. In Indonesia, GBV is on the rise among young people, especially within dating relationships, so ChildFund worked through local partner organizations to educate youth about violence between intimate partners. The participants in turn served as peer educators in their communities, leading age-appropriate forums with children and youth from several schools. In doing so, the youth facilitators learned that peer involvement makes students listen more closely than to adults dictating rules.
“Physical and emotional abuses are considered as normal for them,” said Irma, who worked with 18- to 24-year-olds. “They didn’t realize that when they tease or make fun of someone, it could hurt the other person.”
Given the success of the programme in Central & Western parts of the country, it is being expanded into the East, which is characterised by gender norms that condone violence, especially within the home. One area of specific focus has been a survey on violence within relations, with 70 youths tasked with collecting valuable data on attitudes towards domestic violence within dating relationships, and gender equality – as well as awareness of services for people seeking help for GBV related issues. Results of the survey will be used to design a subsequent safe dating programme in Eastern Indonesia, and will support the government in accessing up to date data.
Participants on the Shine a Light programme in Dominica enjoy a game of three-legged running. Games are used to lighten the tone and enable facilitators to engage with participants
Participants on the Shine a Light programme in Dominica enjoy a game of three-legged running. Games are used to lighten the tone and enable facilitators to engage with participants
Among Dominica’s population of 73,000 people, the Caribbean island saw more than 700 reports of abuse between 2009 and June 2014 — one in every 104 people. Sexual abuse is the most common form of gender-based violence against children in Dominica, especially in communities with high unemployment, juvenile delinquency and student drop-out rates, as well as frequent drug use and sexual abuse.
Working in one of Dominica’s most deprived communities, Shine a Light’s Man-Up program sought to empower boys and youths ages 6 to 24 to make responsible choices while respecting the rights of girls and women. Together, young men learned to express themselves in positive ways. Sessions focused on respect for self and others, gender norms and their implications, community responsibility, brotherhood, goal setting, and sexual and reproductive health.
In Liberia, schools are rife with sexual exploitation and abuse. A 2012 study of 800 girls in four of Liberia’s counties found that 88.7 percent had experienced a sexual violation and cited classmates, teachers and school personnel as the main perpetrators. To respond, Shine a Light formed two clubs for girls, to provide a safe space in the school setting where girls may interact with each other and community mentors about issues such as sexual exploitation and abuse, HIV and AIDS, prevention of unintended pregnancy, and reproductive myths. Financial literacy-building activities added a complementary form of empowerment. The project also engaged boys and teachers. Boys learned about the causes and consequences of sexual exploitation and abuse, and, like the girls, also receive financial education. The project also works with teachers and school administrators to reinvigorate and apply a school code of conduct for all personnel.
In Senegal, ChildFund conducted a study to examine the scope of GBV and found that children experience gender-based violence at home, at school and throughout their communities, leading to an overall environment where GBV is passively accepted as a part of everyday life. Six child protection groups were formed, comprising both young people and adults, to mobilize the communities about some of their most pervasive GBV issues. These groups then developed action plans, which outlined key steps they wanted to take in partnership with their communities to address these issues. The groups chose to focus on community mobilization and advocacy with authorities around rape, early and forced marriage and early pregnancy. An early success involved helping prevent a 14-year-old girl from undergoing a forced marriage: When a youth group in her village learned of her situation, they approached the local child protection group, which then met with her mother and negotiated for the girl’s rights.
These variations of Shine a Light are just four examples of how ChildFund is working pro-actively and innovatively in tailoring its programs to local needs and cultures, in order to be as dynamic and effective as possible in tackling FGM.
While predominantly GBV comes in the form of violence inflicted by men upon women and girls; millions of boys also suffer violence and suffering because of their gender.
http://www.odi.org/comment/8502-male-gender-based-violence-conflict-humanitarian-response
ChildFund Ireland is proud to be a member of the Irish Consortium of Gender Based Violence, and to highlight the work we as are doing in the developing world to promote gender equality and best-practice for young people. Our commitment is to protecting children from GBV, and from violence in all its malevolent guises.
SHINE A LIGHT: CASE STUDY
Indonesia Puts Spotlight on Dating Violence
With thanks to Sagita Adesywi, ChildFund Indonesia
In Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia, three youth facilitators are working to educate kids about gender equality, and to promote an awareness of how cultural norms can help accentuate GBV in their communities. By developing a broader understanding of the causes and impacts of negative attitudes towards gender rights, particularly in dating relationships, they hope to fashion a maturing of prevailing cultural attitudes towards girls, and erode their capacity to be damaging for women’s reproductive health, physical and psychological well-being. Here, the facilitators share their personal experiences and explain what Shine a Light means to them;
CHANDRA
“I was a drop-out by my second year of junior high school. I didn’t like the school, the other students and the teachers. They said I was naughty, and I was bullied too,” says Chandra, a 16-year-old boy from Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia.
Chandra; a Youth Facilitator on the Shine a Light Programme
As a member of the Child Forum, Chandra participated in a recent workshop on gender-based violence, part of the Shine a Light project. In an effort to prevent and respond to gender-based violence against children, ChildFund has worked through local partners to educate youth on the issue of violence between intimate partners — a growing problem in Indonesia. The participants in turn serve as peer educators in their communities.
IRMA
“At the gender-based violence training, we learned about gender and violence, focusing on children and young girls,” says Irma, 18, one of the youth facilitators. “After the training, we held group discussions to get to know what the issues are among us.”
Irma enjoys her work, facilitating on the ‘Shine a Light’ programme
More and more, young people are experiencing violence in dating relationships, not just marriages. These programs are showing Indonesian youth how to manage these relationships in safe and healthy ways, preventing violence before it starts.
The youth facilitators led group discussions with 80 children and youth from several schools. The groups were divided by age: 10-12, 13-17 and 18-24.
Not everyone is comfortable talking these sensitive issues, Chandra explains. “We played some games to lighten the atmosphere, so they could feel more relaxed.”
“I was the facilitator for the 18-to-24 group,” says Irma. “The physical and emotional abuses are also considered as normal for them. They didn’t realize that when they tease or make fun of someone, it could hurt the other person. In the training, I learned that we may also be the person who did the violence toward others without even realizing it.”
Helping children and youth learn about safe and healthy dating practices involves establishing good communication between partners, understanding gender equality and stereotypes, creating boundaries, expressing feelings and perceiving signs of possible dating violence, among other lessons.
STEFANIE
Stefanie facilitated the 13-to-17 group. “I found some of them have experienced violence in dating because they were afraid to say no,” she says. “They are afraid of losing their boyfriends. They don’t know to whom to share. They need someone they can trust.”
Stefanie – Youth Facilitator on ‘Shine a Light’ helping to educate teenagers about GBV
The physical and emotional abuses are also considered as normal for them. They didn’t realize that when they tease or make fun of someone, it could hurt the other person.
She remembers a girl who was raped and became pregnant, which caused her to drop out of school. “The Community Development Agency of Semarang contacted the Child Forum to ask our opinions on that case. Through the discussion, we found out that students were sharing sexual content on mobile phones at school. We then held a sharing session with the students at the school on violence against children and on reproductive health.”
The facilitators have learned that peer involvement makes students listen more closely than to adults dictating rules.
“When the information is delivered by their own friends, it is more easily accepted and understood,” Irma says. “When it is delivered by older people, the kids tend to be quiet.”
Through the Child Forum, ChildFund also provides leadership training for youth to encourage and support them to be the leaders and role models among their peers. With youth facilitators in the students’ communities, more young people will hopefully feel more comfortable seeking the help they need.
“If I hadn’t joined the Child Forum, I would still be the quiet and shy girl, only focus on academic lessons,” Irma says. “I wouldn’t have any broad ideas about the issues that affect children. Now, since I have joined many activities at the Child Forum, I know more! I was really idolizing Stefanie. I think she is really cool. She knows and shares many things to other children, like the issues of gender-based violence.”
Irma, Chandra and Stephanie at the Child Forum Office
ChildFund is empowering these three young people and others like them, to spread a positive message of respect for gender rights and equality throughout their local communities. They are also helping to develop safe practice guidelines and provide valuable data to help inform policy decisions. Their inspiring work can help sow the seeds for a more tolerant and just society, where girls can grow up in an environment free from violence and coercion, and free too to make positive choices that in their own best interests.
