Training workshop: Adolescent Girls Advocate Reforms In Discriminatory Sexual, Reproductive Health Policies

Adolescent girls and young women pose for group picture after training

Some 50 adolescent girls and young women drawn from all ten regions have been availed with knowledge on sexual and reproductive health rights, HIV/AIDs and Global Fund Processes.

This was during a two phase interactive workshop with experts in reproductive health, law and social work which held online and onsite. It was organised by Leap Girl Africa – a young women-led not-for-profit organization aim at advancing girls and women’s rights. It was sponsored by Her Voice, a sub women network under Global Fund.

Speaking to reporters on the sideline of the workshop, the Founder/Coordinator of Leap Girl Africa, Ketcha Pertulla Ezigha, said the training will help develop advocacy campaign on reforming discriminatory sexual and reproductive health and right laws against adolescent girls and women throughout the country.

Founder/Coordinator of Leap Girl Africa, Ketcha Pertulla Ezigha speaking to reporters after training

“These are policies being designed for us but sometimes adolescent girls between the ages of 12-25 are not involve in the processes,” she stated, adding, that through the training participants will gain knowledge on how to involve themselves, look at the existing polices and reform them towards addressing issues faced in communities and schools.

“…what we intend to achieve is a coalition of adolescent girls and young women under 29 and those under 19 who are actually leading the change for themselves,” she stated.

She appealed to government and policy makers to consult female right campaigners in order to assess problems adolescent girls and young women face in order to design policies that tackle such problems without it being bias in nature.

Pertulla who doubles as Sexual Reproductive Right Lead of the Commonwealth Youth Gender and Equality Network, said the plan is feasible as pre-programs and consultations have been done with girls from other areas. She revealed that a helpline has already been setup to this effect for survivors of abuses and to facilitate access to sexual reproductive health services for those in need.

Pertulla who herself is a survivor said the training will teach participants how to stand up and resist such vices, encourage themselves on how to move on as survivors, build safe space in the community not just for themselves but share strategies with others.

Aside lessons on SRHR and HIV/AIDS basics and treatment, participants were also trained on challenges of indigenous girls and those living with disabilities, how to analyze policy and understand the intersectionality in building advocacy as well as design advocacy campaigns to get intended results at community level.

One of the resource persons, Dr. Enow A.G. Stevens, a Clinician, in an interactive session, drilled participants on sexual reproductive rights for young people, HIV/AIDS and other vital health related issues common with girls.

Dr. Enow Stevens, Clinician talking to reporters after training girls on diverse health related issues

Responding to concerns of the participants, the Clinician, recommended that stakeholders adopt a holistic, multi-sectorial and dimensional approach while managing rape cases especially in counselling, providing psychosocial support and orientations in order to be reintegrated in the society and community.

Participants saluted the organizer for the opportunity and pledged to actively participate not only in designing community advocacy campaigns but actively participate and share the knowledge acquired at the workshop to their peers.

Diangha Unity Nidum and Achi Fadi, two of participants said they gained new knowledge on issues related to rape, access to contraception, family planning, stigma, female genital mutilation, its consequences on young women and also HIV/AIDS services/treatment.