LACK OF CONSULTATION AMONG COUPLES BLAMED FOR RISING CASES OF GENDER BASED VIOLENCE IN PALORINYA REFUGEE SETTLEMENT.

By Samson Ganiko

Obongi

A Consortium of  Refugee implementing partners in Palorinya settlement obongi district have embarked on empowering refugees on the importance of joint decision making processes among couple to reduce cases of gender based violence (GBV) in the community.  

Speaking during a community dialogue organized by partners Lutheran World Federation (LWF) supported by the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), UNHCR, drew participants   such as Refugee Welfare Council Leaders, Role modal Men, village champion members and other community members from the three zones in palorinya settled, the members noted lack joint decision making at home states as fuelling factor of GBVs in the refugee community.   

Mrs Grace Tarapwke, a refuge based in Dongo west Zone said majority of women in the settlement have become voiceless as many are oppressed because of GBV. “Talk about economic violence, the sexual violence, the women are been raped in their own houses by their spouses, Most of the women get married with children from other men, and this affects them both mental and physical”, she said

Mr Santo Juma Opika, a resident of Itipa village said in many homes men takes their own decision without involving their wives or children. “Many times we as men we tend to make our own decisions by ourselves is due to our cultural believes and the norms, that why we man flee big and superior even we still the food we grow at home and take it market without the notice of the wives,”

Santos adds; in the families men don’t inform their wives when they want sell certain household items like domestic animals yet many times women are the once taking care of these, and sometimes can result into fight”.    
      
Mr Andrew Kaya, another resident of Bongilo zone said as RWC leaders, they have registered a lot of cases of men mistreating their women. “We have handled so many cases of such nature, normal we bring together couple to understand each other’s on matters of the family, we encourage them to take decisions jointly to avoid issues. Some of these things are as result of men failing to provide for their families, women are left to struggle alone,” Mr Kaya noted.

He has urged men to give their time to stay at home so as to understand the family and support where necessary.     
Mrs Faith Kajumba, the Project officer Lutheran World Federation (LWF) appealed to the implementing partners to redirect resources to address challenges of GBVs in the community. ”As LWF in particular we have done a lot of work in the community through raising awareness on the importance of family decision,” Mrs. Faith remarked.

However, Dulua Christin, the assistant settlement commandant zone ii urged women to involve men in decision making processes for holistic development.