More than 10 women journalists (radio, written press, television...) were trained in leadership for a better handling of gender-based violence in Senegal. The workshop was organised by ENDA Santé with the cooperation of Luxembourg AID & DEVELOPMENT and the EU. This capacity building took place from 17 to 19 May 2022 in Ziguinchor. It was an opportunity to visit several sites that receive and care for women and young victims of gender-based violence.
It is the3rd most affected region by gender-based violence (GBV). 66% of the inhabitants of Ziguinchor are confronted with this phenomenon. Diourbel is in1st place, Fatick is just behind. Abused, beaten, harassed, sometimes killed, there are many women who are victims of these forms of violence. The list of consequences is far from exhaustive: psychological disorders, STIs, unwanted pregnancy, trauma, among others. GBV affects these women throughout their lives and prevents them from reintegrating into society. Children and young people are also affected. This segment of the population is also a victim of these disastrous practices.
ENDA Santé, faithful to its mission supports populations, particularly vulnerable groups, in defending their rights to access information and adequate health services, initiated a capacity building workshop for media women to strengthen their leadership skills in order to better deal with gender-based violence in Senegal.
The aim is to contribute to a change of behaviour among the population in Senegal, Gambia and Guinea-Bissau; to bring the population to be alert, to have the culture of denunciation, and especially to know their rights and what the law provides in case of GBV.
Media professionals and particularly women journalists can be the driving force in the fight against GBV. ENDA Santé understands that it is essential to equip them on this issue in order to lead advocacy at the community, national and international levels. As women are key elements in households and children's education, working with women journalists will allow them to better address, treat and disseminate GBV issues in an ethical and responsible manner.
Through the programme: Strengthening the role and place of civil societies in the South in the implementation of a transformative 2030 Agenda, the ENDA TM International Network is committed to the achievement of these 17 SDGs for an inclusive and sustainable development.
ENDA Santé is working towards the achievement of MDGs 2, 3 and 5
ENDA Santé has positioned itself in three of them: MDGs 2, 3 and 5. These are Zero Hunger, Good Health and Well-being and Gender Equality. In order to contribute to the achievement of MDG 5, ENDA Santé is working with community actors to be closer to the population and to better help GBV victims. To this end, the integrated regional centre for the protection, care and promotion of women's health, which was inaugurated on 4 November 2021, will significantly strengthen the efforts made by the state authorities to fight against these forms of violence against women and young people in Ziguinchor, Gambia and Guinea Bissau. Built thanks to Luxembourg cooperation and the NGO SAN ACCESS, this centre has helped many victims. Some of them have been empowered to have income-generating activities.
ENDA Santé also runs other projects in the south of the country. VIMOS and CARES broaden the scope of the organisation's actions towards these vulnerable populations.
The women journalists participating in this workshop who visited this structure were able to measure the important work carried out by ENDA Santé for these women: the quality of the support and care. They committed themselves, in turn, at the level of their respective editorial offices, to address more issues of gender-based violence to better sensitise the population. The women journalists thanked ENDA Santé for this initiative and hope that it will be continued.
