Yumbe District leaders speak out on emerging issues on Gender based Violence (GBV).

By Inyakuni Kennedy

Yumbe

The authority in Yumbe district local government have expressed displeasure on the raising cases of Gender Based Violence (GBV) among the local residents in the area.  Gender-Based violence refers to harmful acts directed at an individual based on their gender. It is rooted in gender inequality, the abuse of power and harmful norms. It’s a serious violation of human rights and a life-threatening health and protection issue. Failure by the working class women to share domestic responsibilities, and old men marrying young girls have been identified as new key drivers of gender based violence in yumbe.
This was revealed during training of community development officers and sub county agriculture staff held on Friday 24th March 2023 at the District headquarters on gender action learning systems (GALS). GALS is a mechanism in which beneficiaries of the parish development program use pictorials to illustrate their vision journey clearly stating what, how and when they intend to achieve their development goals.

During the function, the Participants highlighted some of the trending factors contributing to the rise in gender based violence in yumbe district.
Mr. Waiga Alphonse an agriculture officer for Romogi Sub County in yumbe district says the practice of old men marrying young girls is among key factors to blame for the increasing GBV cases in the communities. “In many cases you find that this young ladies their aspirations are not together with this man, as such they give a lot of problem, like a lady can give a condition every month I need this, and the man will suffer to meet the conditions. As a result you will find the man is stressed because he want to maintain the lady, and in the process he suffers a lot,” said Mr. Waiga.
Both women and men experience gender-based violence but the majority of victims are women and girls either to lack of knowledge on women’s right or intentionally because of being a weaker sex alongside bad cultural believes in some communities.

Yumbe residents tipped on financial discipline

Mrs.  Adiru Anuna a community development officer (CDO) of Barakala town council adds the rejection to share domestic responsibilities with a man by some working class women is a major setback fueling GBV in others in yumbe district. She explains a situation that happened in her area “Whenever he wants a woman to support the family, the woman is like you desert my ATIM card just like I have deserted your properties. But then how I do desert your property? Your property is the house, children, and the family and you are asking me to desert them because of your ATIM card? That one can not happen,” she said.
She adds: “let’s come together and resolve such thing a round table. Everything in this household belongs to you and the man and also the children”. Other Forms of violence Physical violence, Sexual violence, Psychological violence and Economic violence which can be addressed pillars such as Accountability, Coordination and Leadership, Prevention and Rebuilding Social Cohesion, Protection, Safety and Justice, Care and Support, Economic Power, Research and Information Management among others.  

Mr. Feni Gadi an agriculture officer in yumbe district local government also a facilitator during the training says inclusion and peaceful co-existence are key pillars of the GALS mechanism which aimed at addressing some of the challenges affecting the local population in the district.
GBV occurs as a result of normative role expectations and unequal power relationships between genders in a society. The expectations associated with different genders vary from society to society and over time.