The staff and management of the Abia State Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) have been trained on global best practices for preventing cases of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Violence Against Children (VAC).
In his opening remarks to kick-start the training, Engr. Chinemere Ogbonnaya, the Project Coordinator of Abia RAAMP, emphasized the need for all project staff to abstain from any acts that could be perceived as Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA). He stressed the importance of creating and maintaining an environment that prevents SEA in all its forms to ensure smooth and successful project implementation in the state.
During the training organized by the Gender-Based Violence unit of the Abia State Project Implementation Unit (Abia SPIU), Mrs. Obiageri Ogbonna, the Gender-Based Violence Officer, explained that due to the labor influx from rapid migration and settlement of workers within a project area, cases of GBV and VAC are likely to occur.
In this regard, Mrs. Obiageri Ogbonna admonished the SPIU staff on the need to sign and abide by the code of conduct, which requires all staff to treat all women, children, and men with respect regardless of ethnic or social origin and to refrain from sexual contact with children, including grooming or contact through digital media.
In conclusion, she informed all staff to report any suspected or actual case of GBV or VAC by a fellow staff member or workers on site through the established Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) or to the State Project Coordinator.
The two-day training concluded successfully, with all staff reading and signing the Code of Conduct preventing Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Violence Against Children (VAC).