BY TQM REPORT,
BOLD Hearts Network on 31st October, 2020 held a one-day BOLD Hearts seminar for awareness-raising and capacity building (Hybrid – Onsite and Online via Zoom) for 46 Women with Disabilities with the theme Gender Based Violence against Women and Girls with Disabilities: Silence is not golden.
Top on discussion were Women and girls with disabilities as subject to intersecting forms of discrimination related to sexual and, gender-based violence. How COVID-19 crisis exposed many underlying inequalities and aggravated the situation of women and girls with disabilities, one of those key areas of real concern being sexual and gender based violence. Stopping Gender Based Violence (GBV) is a collective responsibility which includes Persons with Disabilities including women with disabilities. To join the solution and improve response to Gender based violence for women of faith who are also women with disabilities.
BOLD Heart Network with the support of the World Council of Churches put together the seminar. Reverend Iyke Anaga the World Council of Churches representative, during his session (Biblical Reflection of Gender Based Violence), took his lessons from the book of judges 19. He emphasized the effects of keeping silent in the face of GBV and the recurring effects if it is not spoken against by all, not just only the abused but everyone including leaders in communities, institutions and religious settings.
Sharon Ifeoma, the Director of Alpha Focus foundation and an Executive at BOLD Hearts Network during her session focused on the Core concepts of Gender-Based Violence and Disabilities.
She spoke on some of the manifestations and forms of GBV experienced by women and girls with disabilities like deprivation of liberty, harassment based on disability and family members forcing their girls into unsolicited sex. “Breaking the silence starts by talking to yourself’ Sharon Ifeoma quoted.
Ndifreke ‘Freky’ Andrew-Essien, the Executive Director of FAECARE Foundation and Coordinator of BOLD Hearts Network in her session, started with a visualization exercise on the power of words, participants were taken through exercises that showed them how disrespectful words associated with disability could take away power from women with disabilities and make them more vulnerable and susceptible to GBV. “Some words may have negative effects but, you have the power to reject them immediately and replace with favorable names and words, vocally or mentally, it is important to take your power back”.
Mr Tombari Dumka-Kote in his session emphasized the importance of breaking the scourge of silence. Hotlines where provided for the participants where they can access help or get help for other WWDs.
Mrs Uri Edmund of Doctors without borders in her session on Mental Health and GBV explained that her organization focuses on providing support to victims of rape and sexual violence. She rounded up by re-echoing the need to speak up, she stressed on the importance of talking to appropriate people who can listen and understand, and not just anyone that could make the experience even worse.
The seminar which held onsite in Port Harcourt, Rivers state was very interactive and informative.
Participants wore black to symbolize the Thursday in Black (TIB) campaign, where individuals put on black every Thursday to signify and remind on the importance of preventing violence against women. By engaging the women with disabilities in the seminar, we increased their awareness and educated them on different aspects of sexual and gender based violence and prevention.
The network was able to increase their involvement in GBV prevention and assured a safe space and access to information on help for women with disabilities with respect to GBV. Indeed, Gender Based Violence against Women and Girls with Disabilities: Silence is not golden. WWDs at seminar were deeply grateful for the opportunity.
BOLD Hearts Network is a Network of Beautiful Outstanding Ladies with Disabilities in Nigeria. They are the producers of BOLD TV (www.facebook.com/BOLDHEARTSNETWORK), which continued to thrive with the purpose of bringing women with disabilities together to share life experience of joy and challenges under a platform of a network.
SOME PICTURES OF BOLD HEARTS NETWORT
