In a move to address gender-based violence (GBV), Leadership Initiative for Youth Empowerment (LIFE) has embarked on a 32-month campaign in collaboration with African Women Development Fund (AWDF).
The campaign: “Break the Silence, End the violence: Stand against Gender-Based Violence (GBV),” is aimed at amplifying voices of women survivors, and making an impact in Oshodi-Isolo Local Government, Lagos State.
LIFE’s objective is to enhance protection against sexual and gender-based violence for young girls and women, leveraging provisions of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law (VAPP) 2015 of Nigeria.
The initiative involves training community advocates from groups and local institutions to raise awareness about legal safeguards against rape, female genital mutilation, domestic violence, and female trafficking in grassroots communities in Oshodi-Isolo council.
The project will reshape dynamics between community members, law enforcement, and key government agencies involved in combating gender-based violence.
LIFE’s strategic focus includes empowering beneficiaries with an understanding of legal requirements and reporting procedures. The goal is to encourage communities to report sexual and gender-based violence.
Funded by AWDF, the initiative plans to train 80 community champions to conduct knowledge transfer sessions, reaching 8000 community members in four months. LIFE is committed to sustained advocacy and engagement activities with Ministry of Justice and the Police to enhance support provided to survivors.