The Community Healthcare Initiative (CHI), has intensified efforts to prevent sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in Bong County.
The exercise is initiated with support from UNFPA Liberia through the Spotlight Initiative 2.0., included community engagement, and capacity-building initiatives designed to strengthen local response systems, and protect vulnerable populations.
In an effort to promote safer communities, CHI convened a Community-Led Town Hall Meeting in Gbarnga.
The event brought together 40 key stakeholders, including traditional leaders, women and youth representatives, teachers, local government officials, and community protection actors.
The forum created an opportunity for participants, who discussed the growing need to confront gender-based violence, harmful traditional practices, and issues surrounding sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).
Stakeholders were encouraged to become advocates for positive change by raising awareness within their communities, promoting gender equality, challenging harmful social norms, and helping survivors access critical health, legal, psychosocial, and protection services.
Participants emphasized the importance of collective community action in preventing violence, and creating an environment where survivors are treated with dignity, respect, and compassion.
The discussions also highlighted the role of local leadership in addressing harmful practices, and supporting vulnerable women, girls, and other at-risk groups.
Shortly after the town hall meeting, CHI conducted a three-day Integrated GBV Service Delivery Training for 35 frontline professionals drawn from the health, social welfare, and protection sectors.
The trainees included healthcare workers, psychosocial counselors, social workers, and community protection actors responsible for responding to cases of gender-based violence.
The training equipped participants with practical knowledge, and skills in survivor-centered care, trauma-informed case management, confidentiality, ethical service delivery, safe referral pathways, and effective coordination among institutions providing support to survivors.
The sessions were to improve the quality, accessibility, and coordination of services available to victims of gender-based violence in Bong County.
Through the combined initiatives, CHI reaffirmed its commitment to strengthen community structures, and institutional capacity to prevent gender-based violence, as well as ensure that survivors receive timely, professional, and coordinated assistance.
The interventions represent an important contribution to ongoing efforts to advance the rights, safety, and dignity of women, girls, and other vulnerable groups.
CHI believes that empowering communities, and strengthening frontline institutions, will play a vital role in building a future where every individual can live free from violence, discrimination, and abuse.
