BREAKING THE SILENCE, STRENGTHENING WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP: A GRASSROOTS APPROACH TO ENDING GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE

Gender-Based Violence (GBV) remains a serious concern that requires collective responsibility, strong leadership, and action at the community level. Preventing and responding to GBV begins with empowering those who can influence attitudes, challenge harmful practices, and champion change.

On 24 October 2026, The Bakhita Initiative -JDPC Sokoto, with funding from the Women’s Aid Collective (WACOL), held a one-day start-up workshop in Sokoto under the project “Empowering Christian Women and Women Leaders of Culture for Prevention and Response to Gender-Based Violence in Nigeria, through the Strengthening of Grassroots Organizations.”

The workshop brought together Christian women and women leaders of culture from Illela and Sokoto South Local Government Areas, alongside representatives of Christian leadership structures. Participants included the leadership of the Women’s Wing of CAN, a representative of the Youth Wing of CAN, a representative of the Sokoto State CAN Chairman, women religious leaders, women leaders of culture, representatives of Christian women in civil society and Christian women lawyers, as well as representatives of the Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN), Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), Christian Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (CPFN)/Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Organization of African Instituted Churches (OAIC), and TEKAN and ECWA Fellowship blocs.

The workshop marked an important step towards strengthening grassroots efforts to prevent and respond to GBV. It provided an opportunity to introduce the project, build a shared understanding of its objectives, and encourage collaboration among women leaders who can help influence positive change within their communities.

Through this initiative, The Bakhita Initiative (JDPC Sokoto), with support from WACOL, seeks to strengthen grassroots organisations and empower Christian women and women leaders of culture to promote awareness, challenge harmful practices, and contribute to safer communities for women and girls.

Ending Gender-Based Violence is everyone’s responsibility.

Let us speak out against violence, challenge harmful practices, support survivors, and work together to build communities where every woman and girl can live in safety and dignity.

Join us in the fight against GBV. Speak up. Take action. Be part of the change.

#TheBakhitaInitiative

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