WARDC empowers women on public speaking, communication to curb GBV
With the alarming rate of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in the country and the need to further sensitise more people especially in the grassroots, Women’s Advocates Research and Documentation Center (WARDC) have trained 40 women to serve this purpose.
The two day session which bothered on communication and public speaking skills to better engage religious and community leaders on Gender-based Violence is a joint European Union and United Nations, Spotlight Initiative Project.
According to the founding director WARDC, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, religious leaders play very important roles in our communities. They are highly respected people and are very influential in shaping attitudes and practices. Hence these women will learn how to communicate effectively with religious leaders in order to end violence against women and girls and other harmful practices.
WARDC, with Support from UN WOMEN, is implementing the joint EU-UN Spotlight Initiative Project in Lagos state, which seeks to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls. “Given their sphere of influence, religious leaders need to be co-opted as agents of social change in their communities, speaking against female genital mutilation, early marriages, widowhood practices, the denial of girls’ rights to education and all forms of violence against women and girls.