Protection and Gender-Based Violence2019 | Quarter 3 Report

IOM SOUTH SUDAN

What a man can do, a woman can also do! Women role models from IOM at a campaign event talking with young women to encourage them to live their dreams. © IOM 2019 /Loyce NABIE

605 persons attending protection, GBV and PSEA capacity building - 338 men and 267 women

105 women engaged in specific empowerment activities

3,857 persons reached with protection and GBV awareness messages

MITIGATERISKS

PROTECTION AND RESPONSE

AWARENESS AND PREVENTION

OverviewDuring Quarter 3, IOM’s Protection and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) team continued to reinforce efforts to address and prevent sexual exploitation and abuse. This included building the capacity

of IOM implementing partners, vendors, and community volunteers, particularly in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) preparedness operations, to strengthen awareness and reporting systems.

In partnership with Active Youth Agency (AYA), IOM continued strengthening GBV prevention efforts in Juba, Central Equatoria State, including completing a weekly series of dialogues with 80 men during a 16-week period to discuss, reflect and learn about socialization on the basis of gender, which disadvantages women and privileges men. In the coming quarter, these men will plan a graduation ceremony to show the community how they have changed and give women in the community, who went through a parallel training, an opportunity to testify to these changes.

IOM also established gender equality clubs with girls and boys from St Thomas Secondary School of Luri County, Men’s dialogue group in Joppa facilitated by IOM’s partner Active Youth Agency © IOM

2019 / Loyce NABIE

Human-interest story

Ferida is a hygiene promoter who lives in a communityin Juba where IOM is working on integrated WASH and prevention of GBV. In additon to training as a hygiene promoter, she participated in IOM’s women’s leadership and confidence building training. Ferida says that the programme has provided space and opportunities for women in leadership structures. She further reflects that working together with the men on water and sanitation issues, has created a shared understanding including an appreciation of women’s work and the challenges of their roles. Reflecting on this change, Ferida concluded by saying, “It is encouraging to see that women are taking up leadership positions and income generating activities. I have gained new leadership skills, confidence and self-esteem, and I can now address the public without fear; discuss and make joint decisions with my community leaders.”

Ferida - new women’s leader in her community - Juba © IOM 2019 / Loyce NABIE

Agnes OLUSESE | Protection Officer | aolusese@iom.int, Catherine HINGLEY | GBV Specialist | cahingley@iom.int

Central Equatoria State. The club provides a space for reflection and discussion, and creates a platform for adolescents to become active in GBV prevention through engagement in speaking out and educating their peers on the rights of girls.

Women empowerment activities were strengthened during the quarter. Two women’s leadership and confidence building trainings were conducted in Wau, Western Bahr el Ghazal and Juba for 75 women WASH volunteers involved in water management committees, as pump mechnics and hygiene promoters. The sessions covered leadership skills, communication and building relationships, and barriers and effects of gender norms. Further, the women identified and planned how to mitigate heightened risks of GBV against them as women leaders may be perceived by men as stepping out of their roles and a threat to established norms.

Women from a water management committee and community hygiene promoters, participatingin the women’s leadership and confidence building training © IOM 2019 / Cecilia JOSHUA