The Institute for Democratic Action & Development (IDAD) has organized a one-day intensive training for Heads and Representatives of Civil Society Organizations, (CSOs) and Community-based Organizations (CBOs) on gender policy-level advocacy and sexual exploitations and abuse in schools in Montserrado County.
The event which brought together a total of thirty (30) CSOs/CBOs was held at IDAD’s Office in Congo Town, Tubman Boulevard on Tuesday, January 23, 20 24.
The key objectives of the training were to increase awareness on gender policy-level advocacy and prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse, to deepen understanding of CSOs/CBOs in gender policy level advocacy and response to sexual exploitation and abuse, to strengthen CSOs/CBOs to track and document sexual exploitation and abuse in schools.
Providing the overview of the training objectives, the Executive Director of IDAD, Joseph Cheayan mentioned that it was intended to strengthen the capacities of CSOs & CBOs to advocate for policy reforms, policy implementation, and service delivery through multi-stakeholders coalitions that build feedback loops among government, CSOs, CBOs and citizens.
For his part, the Legal Specialist of IDAD, Atty. Stephen B. Lavallah made insightful presentations on these existing laws, frameworks, procedures, protocols, and best practices geared towards the reduction of sexual gender-based violence in schools.
Atty. Lavalah stressed the significance of the training and emphasized the need for policy reforms and implementation in key legislations relating to sexual exploitation and abuse.
The Legal Specialist’s presentations further focused on the types of advocacies, international protocols and laws and national instruments, policy and frameworks on sexual exploitations and abuse.
Some of those types of advocacy highlighted included, rallies, public stalls, talks, nonviolent actions, citizens’ engagements, sit-ins etc.
During the training exercises, there were groups’ sessions, and presentations made by the participants on advocacy, causes of sexual exploitations and abuse in schools, preventive and awareness mechanisms to reduce sexual exploitation.
The activities are part of IDAD’s Regional CSOs/CBOs Legal Clinics/ Assistance in Montserrado and Nimba Counties and are being funded by USAID Liberia Civil Society Activity and implemented by (DAI).
The Institute for Democratic Action & Development (IDAD) is a capacity-building and advocacy organization that promotes democracy, the rule of law, and natural resource management and policy advocacy in Liberia. IDAD’s mission is to strengthen citizens’ capacities to influence public policies.
