“Empowering Gender Champions in Sudan” – Combating Gender-Based Violence and Fostering Inclusive Communities

Hadiya, Mubashar, and Rogia are three of the 67 participants in the "Developing and Establishing Gender Champions" training program that took place within the EU funded WE-RISE! project - between June and July - in Gedaref, Sudan, implemented by AICS in partnership with Mercy Corps.
Surprised by the sudden violence that erupted in the country on April 15th, 2023, with hundreds dead and thousands fleeing the capital, Hadiya, Mubashar, and Rogia are now trying to contribute through awareness actions to curb the increase in gender-based violence (GBV) incidents in Gedaref. Despite Gedaref being largely shielded from direct conflict, the city is grappling with significant challenges due to the influx of displaced individuals arriving from Khartoum. Overcrowded markets, soaring food prices, and unreliable electricity services are exacerbating tensions, leading to an increase in episodes of violence, especially targeting women and girls.
This has resulted in a deterioration of living conditions in these areas. Since April 15, the number of people in Sudan in need of GBV services has increased by over 1 million, reaching 4.2 million people. The number of individuals targeted for GBV services has risen to 1.3 million .
In this context, Mercy Corps organised a training course from June 22 to 25 and July 18 to 20 in Gedaref tackling 40 women and 27 men from diverse age groups and backgrounds, including students, employees, housewives, youth volunteers, and members of the community service committee the training program was designed to provide participants with a deep understanding of GBV and harmful social norms, its root causes, and its impact on individuals and communities. Through interactive sessions led by qualified facilitators, the participants were encouraged to discuss social norms perpetuating violence against women and girls actively. Mubashar has been chosen as the "Gender Champion" for his unwavering commitment to gender equality and his willingness to address "uncomfortable" topics in his community. Through this training, his knowledge and community mobilization tools have significantly improved, enabling him to take a proactive role within his community, family, and university, with the goal of effecting real change and eradicating harmful social norms.
One of the key goals of the training was to raise awareness of the importance of consent and healthy relationships. Participants were instructed in recognizing signs of abuse and how to sensitively offer support to survivors. The training also strongly emphasized the role of young people in shaping the impact of social networks as an effective tool to counter harmful gender stereotypes still prevalent in society.
The gender-based violence training concluded with an action planning session, in which the participants were encouraged to develop ideas and initiatives to address gender-based violence in their respective communities. The impact of this training should be far-reaching. Gedaref is taking significant steps toward creating a safer and more inclusive society by providing individuals with knowledge and skills. Hopefully, these trained participants will become gender champions, inspiring others to combat harmful social norms and work towards eradicating gender-based violence.