Helping Sudan's community volunteers in Gender based violence intervention

I was invited to take a session on #genderbasedviolence Awareness with Amneen Initiative's community volunteers from #SouthSudan. There have been increasing reports of #genderbasedviolence in #Sudan – including #conflict -related #sexualviolence against internally displaced and #refugee women and girls – since fighting erupted in the country more than 11 weeks ago.
In this urgent need to ramp up assistance to reach #survivors. I had the opportunity to provide gender-based violence #casemanagement and awareness session.

As we delved into the complexities of gender-based violence issues, a participant interrupted the presentation with a crucial question. While discussing help-seeking options for survivors of violence, this passionate volunteer halted the slides to inquire about providing help when traditional hotlines, police, and emergency numbers were unavailable during the #war.

This powerful moment highlighted the real-world implications of our discussions. It reminded us all that the issues we were addressing were not just theoretical, but deeply connected to the everyday experiences of the volunteers on the ground. The participant's concern demonstrated a genuine commitment to making a difference in the face of adversity, seeking practical solutions in situations where standard resources might be scarce.

The exchange followed discussions on psychological first-aid care, active bystander intervention, and steps to barefoot counseling. It also made me realize how much we rely on the institutional support of the Police. As social workers, we need to train non-specialists in how to cope with #war and support survivors of violence in such dire situations.

#healthcare providers, #socialworkers , #counselors, and community-based networks need to come together to put an end to gender-based violence and abuse of human rights.

I am grateful for the opportunity to facilitate these discussions and witness the passion of #Amneen Initiative #volunteers . It's a reminder that, even in the face of adversity, individuals and communities can come together to address critical issues and work towards a violence-free future. Thanks to Balsam Abd Elgawi for the invitation. You are doing great and impactful work.