By Gilbert Azeem Tiroog
Zebilla (U/E), Sept. 6, GNA – The Upper East Regional Peace Council has organised a two-day capacity-building workshop on human rights violations, negative gender norms, and stereotypes for opinion leaders at Zebilla in the Bawku West District.
The opinion leaders, including chiefs, queen mothers, assembly and unit committee members, and leaders of the Fulbe community, were drawn from Kopella, Widnaba, and Sepeliga communities.
Other participants included staff of the District Assembly.
The workshop aimed at empowering them to be able to counter harmful gender norms, reshape stereotypes by promoting positive, inclusive narratives and help in bridging gaps in knowledge on human rights violations and foster a more informed and empathetic society.
It was also focused on enabling them to help catalyse systematic change, promote social justice, and create a more equitable and inclusive society while leveraging their authority to help shift harmful cultural norms and reduce discrimination.
Mr David Angaamba, the Principal Programmes Manager of the Upper East Regional Peace Council, highlighted the essence of the workshop when he addressed the participants, numbering 50 in Zebila.
It had funding support from the United Nations (UN) Peace Building Fund through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA).
Dr Sabina Appiah Boateng, a research fellow at the Department of Peace Studies, School for Development Studies at the University of Cape Coast, who facilitated the workshop, said the reactions by the opinion leaders with regard to issues of human rights further underscored the need for such a capacity building for them.
“It was surprising to learn from the opinion leaders that in this modern day women are still left out on certain matters even if it had to do with them, and we know some of these have been underpinned by cultural norms, and so this training for them is crucial because there is the need for them to understand that women’s voices need to be heard even amidst men,” she stated.
She also underscored the need for equal voices regardless of gender, adding, “I am glad that some of them informed me they have already started practicing these things, but collectively, as community leaders, they need to educate their community members about the ideal thing, thus not limiting women because of cultural norms because they are as capable as men.”
Naba Abodbundi Emmanuel Ayagiba III, a Divisional Chief of the Sapeliga community, said the workshop had exposed him to a lot of things about human rights, and going forward he would ensure social justice, to bridge the gender gap that existed in his community over the years.
Alhaji Azumah Iddrisu, a leader of the Fulbe community, said having participated in the workshop he was more enlightened on human rights, particularly the need for women to be allowed to also challenge the status quo, and he was committed to furthering the education among his people.
The stakeholders at the end of the workshop formulated action plans they intended to carry out in their respective communities to ensure an inclusive society where the rights of everyone were respected regardless of gender or ethnicity.
GNA