Women United for Economic Empowerment (WUEE) champions women’s rights and equal gender representation in target communities in Akwa Ibom State. By working directly with both women and community leaders, activities in this area aim to increase the participation of women in governance and decision-making, as well as end violence against women and girls. WUEE raises awareness within the community and advocates for the inclusion of women at the local and state level!
In commemoration of the 16 days of activism, WUEE received a grant from PIND to campaign against gender based violence in their community. WUEE carried out a series of activities centred around the importance of education in mitigating violence against women and girls.
Promoting Peaceful and Safe Environment for the Education of Women and Girls
WUEE held a one-day round table discussion with 50 participants to discuss safe environment for formal and informal education of women and girls in Akwa Ibom State. The event, which was held in Uyo on December 6, was attended by members of the press, representatives of Adult and Literacy Centre, Ministry of Education, community leaders from Etinan L.G.A, parents, young women and girls and civil society organizations.
The meeting focused on the quality of education in Nigeria and how its decline has affected women and girls. It was also an avenue to discuss factors constraining women and girls from getting a formal education. These factors include gender based violence, socio-cultural and religious practices, non-availability of water hygiene and sanitation, inadequate education funds, teenage pregnancy, poor promotion of educational programmes by communities, distance from school, lack of security, negative social attitudes and cultural practices etc.
There was a paper presentation by WUEE tagged ‘Promoting Formal and Informal Education Via Combating Gender Based Violence in Schools and Communities’ which focused on why education is the most important investment a community can do.
After the presentation, the participants assembled were broken into four groups to discuss these central themes.
- Poor and Hostile School Environment
A school environment that may be acceptable to boys may be hostile to girls. The physical and sexual violence against women that is common in many societies is reflected in the school environment.
- Physical Abuse and Abduction
Physical abuse and abduction are not only a major violation of girls’ basic human rights, they also present a major practical constraint in getting to school. Parents feel a duty to protect their daughters and may decide to keep them at home if they feel the school is too far away. Violence against girls and women has been identified as a key barrier to girls’ education.
- Inadequate Female Teachers
Participants discussed the need to recruit and train more female teachers especially in community schools, who often become important role models for the young women they teach. Teachers need training to be effective in supporting girls and to intervene when violence is threatened.
- Lack of Gender Monitoring Teams
Governments also need more education officials and teachers who have the knowledge, understanding and status to ensure that girls have access to quality education.
- Women have a Weak Position in Society
Within communities, girls have to overcome many obstacles before they can realize their right to an education. Before girls can attend school and benefit fully from their education, a number of major social constraints have to be addressed. Girls often have limited control over their futures.
- Early marriage
Early marriage is a reality for many, where families wish for the social and economic benefits this brings. In rural communities most girls are illegally married by age 18. And once they become pregnant they halt their education in addition to domestic responsibilities at home.
- Domestic Violence
For girls who have been victims of violence in conflict situations, trauma can impair their ability to learn conflict.
- Social Exclusion
Social exclusion is an additional barrier to girls going to school. Rape and domestic violence may render a female child disabled for life. Certain groups of girls are more likely to be excluded from school on the disability. In Nepal, Dalit girls are almost twice as likely to be excluded from school as higher caste girls. Females with disabilities in particular, constitute a significant group that is denied access to education.
Community members were advised to collaborate with civil society organizations to Promote Peaceful Environment on Formal and Informal Safe Education for Women and Girls in Akwa Ibom State.
More Stakeholder Engagements
WUEE held a community mobilization meeting with 200 people from Ikot Ekan and Ikot Abasi 1 of Etinan Local government area of Akwa Ibom State on December 7 and 8, 2017 to discuss the role of education in preventing violence against women and girls.
During the community mobilization, WUEE explained the difference between formal education and ‘informal’ education and how each predisposes women and girls to some form of violence or the other. Community members also learned some of the predominant outcomes of gender based violence on a girl or woman’s education. These outcomes were outlined as an increasing lack of concentration, inability to study, falling grades, disruption in class, poor school attendance and ultimately, dropping out of school.
This facilitated a discussion with community members with every participant agreed that preventing violence against women and girls involves the cooperation of families, communities, teachers, students and the government and that there must be basic necessities in schools to keep women in school. These were good school infrastructure with proper facilities, toilets and safety for women and girls.
WUEE went a step further by visiting the schools in Etinan Local Government, assessing their toilets and recommending upgrades to ensure more girls stay in school. This is because it has been shown that when there are no properly functioning toilets in schools, many girls opt to defecating in the bush, which makes them vulnerable to attacks and abuse.
