Soma Sara’s Post

Our Stand Against Recycled Violence (STAR) project, a year-long endeavor aimed at combating violence among adolescents, recently faced a significant obstacle. Initially, we planned a comprehensive two-day training for 50 teachers and 1,700 students by the end of July. However, state government directives led to a rescheduling of exams and, consequently, our training. This unexpected shift was a tough blow, yet it offered us precious time to refine our approach. Prior to this, the school had changed her administration for the third time under the space of a year, forcing us to re-present our project and plans to new leaders. Each change added a layer of complexity but also strengthened our determination. With over 30 volunteers passionately committed to this cause, every hurdle only fueled our drive. This week, another curveball emerged. A debate we had prepared for was suddenly moved from Friday to Wednesday morning with barely any notice. This was because of the Nation wide protest, to ensure early vacation and safety of the students. Our plan was have an inter-class debate to assess the impact of our interventions, and to award winners with sponsorship to a 3-day adolescent bootcamp for mental health. Despite arriving on time, we encountered unforeseen activities that delayed our event, and eventually cancelled the debate. In spite of these, we adapted, and continued to scale up our drive. Our STAR project is dedicated to transforming the lives of children affected by domestic violence, bullying, and cultism. Through targeted training, therapy, and activities, we aim to break the cycle of trauma and empower these young individuals. Our initiatives address crucial issues like teenage pregnancies, sex education, gender-based violence, and reproductive health rights—culminating in our beautiful free tribe clubs. To us, every setback is an opportunity to refine impact. If you’re inspired by our work and wish to support this cause, your donation can make the tangible difference! Together, we can empower these adolescents and foster a brighter, violence-free future. #freetribenetwork #STARproject #publichealth #communityhealth #adolescents

16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence: A Call to Action for Young Girls in African Communities As an education consultant, I recognize the critical importance of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, which seeks to raise awareness and drive efforts to eliminate this pervasive issue. In many African communities, young girls face horrific realities, such as defilement and rape, which rob them of their safety and future, often leaving deep emotional scars. Education serves as a powerful tool for empowerment, yet the existing framework often lacks a focus on gender sensitivity. Schools should evolve into safe spaces where girls can learn about their rights, consent, and advocacy. By incorporating comprehensive sex education that addresses gender-based violence, we can empower young girls to understand and assert their rights. Cultural stigma around discussing sexual violence creates an environment where many women, often victims themselves, remain silent. This silence perpetuates a cycle of abuse, preventing young girls from seeking help. We must encourage reporting and create support systems that allow survivors to come forward without fear of shame or ostracism. Addressing this issue requires collective responsibility. Parents, teachers, local leaders, and law enforcement must work together to foster open dialogues. Schools can host workshops and community forums to educate families about the importance of reporting gender-based violence. Collaborating with local NGOs that focus on women's and children's rights can further enhance these efforts through training and resources As we observe these 16 Days of Activism, it’s essential to reflect on our roles in protecting young girls. This is not just a responsibility for mothers or guardians; it is a community-wide effort. Together, we can create an environment where young girls feel empowered, safe, and free to pursue their aspirations without the shadow of violence. Let us transform this campaign into a powerful call to action: "Enough is enough." Together, we can safeguard our children’s future and ensure that no child endures the trauma of violence. #16daysactivismagainstgenderbasedviolence

The US media might sound pessimistic about last week’s outcome, but not all is lost in one election. The Legislative Youth Advisory Council in Washington State illustrates the importance of trusting nonpartisan viewpoints to legislate and find solutions at the local level. My last article at The Urban Activist. Thanks Ashlye Triebs for all the insightful information about Washington State Legislative Youth Advisory Council. In 2007, a group of high school students from Olympia, the state capital of Washington, advised legislators to support the teaching of “scientifically accurate sexual education” in schools across the state. Historically, America has struggled to openly discuss the topic of sex. Nevertheless, the voices of these teenagers led to the passage of a bill the same year that granted students access to sexual education. For many, this bill was not surprising. Predominantly a blue state, Washington has implemented some of the most progressive policies in the nation, including the legalization of assisted suicide, the recognition of same-sex relationships, the guarantee of paid sick leave for most workers, and stricter gun laws. However, policies concerning the youth such as the issue of teen pregnancy have emerged from the nonpartisan advice provided by a young advisory body, the Legislative Youth Advisory Council. Continue reading 👇 #localdemocracy #governance #nonpartisan #UScities #civicengagement #youth #policymaking

The Washington State Legislative Youth Advisory Council illustrates the importance of trusting nonpartisan viewpoints to legislate and find solutions at the local level. In 2007, a group of high school students from Olympia, the state capital of Washington, advised legislators to support the teaching of “scientifically accurate sexual education” in schools across the state. Historically, America has struggled to openly discuss the topic of sex. Nevertheless, the voices of these teenagers led to the passage of a bill the same year that granted students access to sexual education. By 2011, just four years later, Washington State recorded its lowest teen pregnancy rate among females aged 15 to 17 (19 per 1,000) since tracking began in 1980. While increased access to family planning services clearly played a significant role in this positive trend, comprehensive sexual health education programs—especially those covering the use of contraceptives—were also effective strategies to prevent teen pregnancies. For many, this bill was not surprising. Predominantly a blue state, Washington has implemented some of the most progressive policies in the nation, including the legalization of assisted suicide, the recognition of same-sex relationships, the guarantee of paid sick leave for most workers, and stricter gun laws. However, policies concerning the youth such as teen pregnancy have emerged from the nonpartisan advice provided by a young advisory body, the Legislative Youth Advisory Council. Continue reading 👇 #democracy #cities #governance #nonpartisan #civicengagement #civicactivism #WashingtonState

It is not fair to burden the parents with sole responsibility for raising non-violent boys. Although this is a community responsibility, parents have so many roles to play their part. Two, nor is it fair that most rape prevention efforts have focused on girls and young women. Girls are constantly told to protect themselves. Yes, increasing girls’ self-protective skills and resistance to violence is important. But it is just as important, if not more so, to nurture non-violence among boys. The challenge is to raise our sons in such a way that pressuring or forcing someone into sex is unthinkable. And given this, the challenge is to find alternatives for them to the toxic messages about masculinity and sexuality which are part of our culture. When the big brothers talk about sex, boundaries consent, coercion, rape and healthy relationships, challenging the dangerous myths that ‘real’ men are violent or dominating - the little boys can be made as tender and loving men. Changing the narratives for the boys to be critical of the sexist and violence-supportive messages in media – like the ideas that women are responsible for their sexual victimisation or that men have uncontrollable sexual desires. With younger boys, getting educated about bodily respect and integrity – about when and how it is appropriate and safe to behave with others or to be touched. Encourage non-violent and respectful behaviour – to boys’ siblings, friends, and others. ‘Walk the talk’ by being a positive role model Fathers and other men can play important roles in nurturing respectful men rather than macho men. In doing this, we are teaching our sons the essential tools of being a good human being. In the picture - Reimagining Masculinity Session with our boys as part of our better[MEN]t Camp towards School Positive Masculinity

Please pause your LinkedIn morning scrolling for a few minutes. In the last 12 months, 82 million girls and 69 million boys experienced some form of sexual violence globally, often in spaces where they should feel and be safe: at home, school, on public transport, and in community or religious spaces. That's 3 girls and 2 boys EVERY SECOND for the past year, according to Together for Girls key data. This is devastating. It's high time all governments accept how widespread this is, and end tolerance and impunity for sexual violence against children. Today, governments will convene in Bogota, Colombia, for the first ever Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children. Governments are expected to pledge actions to tackle violence against children, including sexual violence. They MUST take concrete steps to protect all students and pledge to end the impunity that surrounds school-related sexual violence. Indeed, many activists and organizations have signed an open letter to collectively urge states to do so (see UN Girls' Education Initiative (UNGEI) posts and link below). Here are Human Rights Watch top recommendations: - Governments that are serious about ending SRSV should act, with measures that reflect the complexity of preventing and tackling SRSV. - This includes: investing in training school personnel, allocating counselors with specialized expertise on SRSV to schools, and guaranteeing access to comprehensive sexuality education to empower all students. - They should also end impunity for SRSV and establish robust, confidential, and accessible reporting systems, while also ensuring coordination among education ministries, police, and judicial institutions. - They also need to urgently invest significant resources to ensure effective justice, support, and reparations for child survivors. Here's a <5-minute read out from Katherine La Puente and myself: https://lnkd.in/g7a2GQb2 Here's a UN Girls' Education Initiative (UNGEI) and Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI) paper that details a comprehensive range measures governments must adopt to prevent school-related sexual violence: https://lnkd.in/gtW84r8Y

Today, the International Day of the Boy Child seems timely for me to share my thoughts on Gender Justice and Empowerment. But before I go right into it, I will like to ask a question: WHY DO MOST PEOPLE THINK ONLY OF GIRLS/WOMEN WHEN IT COMES TO GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE? During a group discussion, a lot was raised by Gender Advocates. But I had only one issue with their positions which I made known; the fact that a major root cause is being neglected. The men we see today were once boys, some found themselves in toxic environments and unfortunate circumstances where they had to constantly witness their fathers/uncles mercilessly beating up their mothers/Aunts or husbands locking up their wives at home denying them access to social and financial independence. Some of these boys have been sexually abused by Aunts, adult female neighbours or teachers in school. Authoritarian and Neglectful Parenting, being the majorly practiced styles in Africa (Nigeria) does not give room for these boy-victims to speak up. They end up timid, reserved, lacking social skills, misled, uncontrollable emotions, inability to make sound independent decisions and/or aggressively rebellious. Now, do you think the perfect solution to an abuse is putting the abuser who was or might have been a victim of abuse behind bars? Are you also aware that a lot of women are excellent with verbal and in some cases physical abuses which can trigger a man's anger? This is in no way a justification to Girl child or women abuse but a thought-provoking piece directing our minds to some important neglected facts about Gender-Based Violence. So, as a way of proffering solutions to GBV, here are steps to add: a) The adoption of Authoritative Parenting Styles in all African homes b) Mental Health and Psychosocial Support not only for girls/women but also for boys/Men c) Close monitoring of children by parents, guardians and school teachers d) The practice of same or similar laws against GBV by communities and states of a country. (This strengthens a country's unity and does not give room for abusers to feel safe to commit such crimes in some parts of the country. e) Empowering children with their rights and incorporating Gender Rights Education in Primary and Secondary Schools' curriculum. You can add your own solutions in the comments session, positive criticism around this piece are also welcomed. #BoyChild #MenWereOnceBoys

We share 4 things schools could do to help prevent gender-based violence with Sarah Vrankovich & Sharyn Burns for The Conversation Australia + NZ As part of a range of measures to address gender-based violence, the federal Australian Government announced A$6.5 million for an “age assurance technologies” pilot. But we cannot rely on measures like this alone. A more effective approach is teaching young people porn literacy. So young people learn to critically analyse and deconstruct messages commonly found in pornography. In doing so, they can counter the potentially harmful messages they might receive. Part of advocating for extending Relationships and Sexuality Education for year 11 & 12 as part of a gender-based and sexual violence reduction strategy is that teens are in a high bracket of both experiencing and perpetrating violence and therefore info is vital at this time Perpetrators tend to commit their first acts of sexual violence as teens and behaviours can persist over time. While perpetrators of all sexes and genders exist it is imperative to look for ways to inspire and engage men & boys for collective change (link to relevant report in comments) We would also like to acknowledge the increased impact of domestic, family & sexual violence on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, People living with disabilities and LGBTQ+ populations c/o Curtin University, Edith Cowan University and RMIT University

Our response to the Draft RSHE guidance:   This month the Department for Education has published new draft guidance on relationships, sex and health education (RSHE). It plans to cut RSHE classes for children under 9 and limit LGBT+ education. We believe that this puts children at greater risk of s*xual harm and perpetuates a culture of silence around child s*xual abuse. Our Key Concerns: · The sole responsibility for RSHE cannot rest on a child’s parent(s) or carer(s) when we know that abuse so often happens within the family home · Reducing RSHE in schools can push children and young people to search for information online instead, which can be inaccurate and unsafe. · Quality RSHE can provide children with language and information that supports them to speak up - age restrictions may prevent children from disclosing earlier. We need to listen to young people. This year, young people from The Green House chose ‘Education’ as the theme for our Beyond Therapy festival of activism against s*xual abuse. Young survivors led workshops and spoke on panels, sharing how they had been let down by the education system and highlighting poor responses to disclosures and a failure to address issues of toxic masculinity within schools. We should be expanding and improving the RSHE curriculum, not reducing it.    What can we do? Anyone can respond to the guidance before the consultation period ends on 11 July 2024. You can do this by completing the DfE’s online form (link in bio) or you can request the questions in a different format by e-mailing rsheguidance.consultation@education.gov.uk. Further guidance on how to respond can be found online.    The Green House will continue to listen to and be guided by young people and their families. If you need support, contact us on info@the-green-house.org.uk

As an anti-trafficking activist campaigning for the last 30 years on behalf of survivors, I highly recommend "Sexed: A History of British Feminism" by Susanna Rustin. This book is about Josephine Butler and her campaign against the misogynist Contagious Diseases Acts. It helped me draw compelling parallels with contemporary AIDS policies by UNAIDS and major foundations like Gates. The CD Acts aimed to protect male buyers from disease rather than safeguarding women. Similarly, contemporary AIDS policies often focus on harm reduction for buyers of sex instead of prioritizing the rights and protection of prostituted women and girls. UNAIDS and big foundations have spent the bulk of their money on condom distribution and promotion programs. They have turned a blind eye to the physical and mental health consequences women face from repeated body invasion. In fact, they have normalized the purchase of sex and trivialized women by spending dollars on ad campaigns that say, "It does not matter which woman you choose, choose the right condom." This gaslighting of women's experiences of pain and trauma by labeling it as work and a choice is deeply problematic. The "choices" women have are often an absence of choice. Women clearly state their involvement stems from hunger, homelessness, lack of education, or protection. They assert that the repeated invasion of their bodies is inherently harmful with deep physical and mental health consequences. Work that harms the body should be considered exploitation, not work. But instead many foundations and UNAIDS are pushing for impunity for the exploiters of the women by advocating for the legalization of pimping and brothel-keeping. https://lnkd.in/dFRxZrFn