Going door to door to identify cases of violence against children, girls and women
"I visit the community members, to inform girls and women about their rights. I also ask questions to try and find out of there are cases of gender-based violence. Thanks to this work, we were able to prevent the marriage of a 14-year-old girl".
Attou Alifa Seina, a 22-year-old woman, lives in Mani, Hadjer Lamis Province in central Chad. For almost six months now her life has changed. In addition to her commercial activities, she has added home visits. Twice a week she goes around the neighborhoods of Mani. She is employed as a social worker for the Peacebuilding Fund-supported “Project to support the prevention of and response to gender-based violence against children, girls and women in the sub-prefecture of Mani".
This morning, Attou meets with Khadidja Ahmat, a 26-year-old mother. After a brief greeting, she explains the reason for her visit and writes down some identifying information about the household. She gives Khadidja a brief lecture about children and women’s rights.
You have to look after your children and help them to grow, she says. If you feel violated in your household, do not hesitate to go to the PILC (Public Interest Listening Centre, implementing partner of the project supported by UNICEF with funding from the Peacebuilding Fund) listening centre to share your problems. You will receive the necessary support.
Cases requiring support are referred to Koutou Moyana, the case manager of the PILC listening centre. She is responsible for listening to victims of violence and facilitating their orientation and care.
I receive several cases of denial of resources, such as complaints from women whose husbands have abandoned the household and refuse to take care of the children. I am particularly happy to have helped prevent the marriage of a 14-year-old girl. We are working with lawyers and the hospital and facilitating medical or legal care for the victims.
Community leaders such as social workers, peer educators, leaders of women's groups and leaders of local peace committees have been trained to promote women's and children's rights, peaceful cohabitation, the fight against violent extremism, women's leadership and the fight against Gender Based Violence.
In order to ensure the coordination of their actions, these partner platforms meet frequently and share information and experiences:
We have understood that school is not a barrier to marriage. When a girl goes to school, she will always be able to get married after she has passed the age of 18.
We give advice on accepting ethnicities and cultures outside the indigenous community. We help them to collaborate and prevent conflicts. When a conflict arises, we work within the local peace committee to manage it very quickly.
Before, when a girl was 16, she was eligible for marriage. Thanks to our awareness-raising activities, things have changed, people are starting to keep girls in school
