Training focuses on gender-based violence

Main Stories

A new type of training called ‘Sasa’ was conducted in Port Moresby to help Pacific organisations to increase awareness on gender-based violence (GBV) and help women and girls participate fully in development.
Australian High Commission counsellor for gender and sports Susan Ferguson said, “Prevention is not simple. It requires action on many levels. The ‘Sasa’ model provides some new thinking and skills for Pacific-based organisations who are already working to prevent violence.”
Ferguson said through funding support from the Australian government, UN Women and Raising Voices, the training was delivered in Port Moresby from Sept 5-9 to Pacific-based organisation representatives from Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Kiribati, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.
She said the training was done through a community owned and driven approach to increase awareness on GBV. Participant Eriko Fufurefa from the Highlands Human Rights Defenders Network said that she learnt a lot of new ideas, techniques and approaches to use outreach prevention work in the communities.
Population Services International’s Shannon McVey said SASA provided a vehicle for change that was community owned and driven.
The five-day training provided an introduction to the model and approach by imparting skills to Pacific groups to customise the model for use in different cultural contexts.
Participants plan to integrate and adapt the Sasa strategies into their existing or new prevention programmes.
The training is providing some hope for the future, and has already proven to be effective in preventing GBV in parts of Africa and other countries around the world.