Strengthen the Community Partnership Group on Girls Empowerment (CPGGE) Consultative forum was held in 4 target communities from October 13 – 17 2017 with the objectives of:
- Strengthening the community partnership group on girls empowerment
- identifying the socio-economic and developmental issues for women, girls and men in the community
- Identifying the sexual and reproductive health issues of women within the communities.
- identifying the common gender issues within the communities
In attendance were 40 men and 22 women comprising the clan heads of each community, village heads, women leaders, men leaders and the youth leaders from Mbarakom, Creek Town, Odukpani L.G.A, Anyanganse, Akpabuyo L.G.A, Atan-Okoyong, Akpabuyo L.G.A, Aningeje, Akamkpa L.G.A.
The communities identified almost similar issues during the dialogue this include:
- Early sexual activity/forced cohabitation
- Son preference
- Child abandonment
- Teenage pregnancy
- Unwanted pregnancy
- Misconception about contraception
- Infertility
- Lack of skills acquisition centre
- Low enrolment in secondary school as none is situated in the community
- Unemployment
After the discussions on prevailing gender issues in the communities with suggestions on how these issues can be collectively addressed, and the sustainability of interventions in the community. The solutions proposed included;
- Mobilizing community leaders, policy makers and civil society organizations to recognize and take action on the special socio-economic and developmental needs of the female adolescent.
- Building partnerships for promoting the development of policies/actions that support gender equality and attainment of sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls.
A training was scheduled to address the issues identified.