Habibatu Kamara tie-dyes bedsheets, a profit-making skill she learned through IRC training as a member of the Pendembu Women’s Action Group.  Photo: Fatmata Mansaray

In Kailahun District, the region hardest hit by the war, GBV helped four communities build Women’s Centres, organize Women’s Action Groups, train women in income generating skills, and raise community awareness about GBV. That women have a place to meet and talk and work together makes all the difference in the world.  Each of these communities is served by a social worker and a community mobilizer, supporting survivors of violence and working to organize the community for progressive action.Now GBV works to make sure these programs will be sustained.  The Rainbo Centres will be integrated into the Ministry of Health and Sanitation.  The Women’s Centres and the land they stand upon already belong to the women of their respective communities.  Here in Kailahun District, the GBV team works in partnership with others to strengthen local and governmental bodies as they work to prevent and respond to violence against women.   Two weeks ago, assisted by an IRC doctor, they held a workshop for health care workers and law enforcement officials on the recommended treatment of sexual assault survivors.  And last week the GBV Manager was in court again, reminding the magistrate of new legal procedures in rape cases.  Her work produced that success story I told you about. (See Posting #3).

All over the country, the GBV team has been holding informative discussions about three important gender laws passed in June 2007—laws on domestic violence, registration of customary marriages and divorces, and the devolution of property—all aimed at improving the legal status of women.  GBV produces a lot of radio programs too for broadcast on local stations.  Just this afternoon I stopped at a tiny shop up the street to buy some peanuts and found a little group of men bent over a portable radio, listening to a program about wife beating.Then there’s our Global Crescendo project that encourages women to look at their own lives—with digital cameras—and advocate for themselves.  I’ll tell you how it’s going next time.