Education as a Vaccine on the 8th and 9th of September 2021 inaugurated 80 community response team members (CRT) in 11 communities in Ezza South and Abakaliki local government areas of Ebonyi state.
This is in a bid to establish community structures and coordination mechanisms to promote gender equitable norms, prevent and respond to VAWG/SRGBV/HP/SRHR in school and community environments.
The Community Response Team members (CRT) will serve as first responders of VAWG in their communities, they have been trained and saddled with the responsibility of tackling cases in their various communities namely; Ezzama, Echara, Amana, Ameka, and Amuzu in Ezza South LGA, and Izzi Unuhu, Amegu, Amachi, Okpuitimo Ndiebo and, Azuiyiokwu in Abakaliki LGA of Ebonyi State.
The CRT members are also charged with the responsibility to report all cases of GBV in communities to the appropriate authorities and to create awareness on the rights of women and girls within their communities.
Part of the projects objectives is to increase access to quality services for survivors of GBV, therefore the CRTs were linked to service providers within the LGA to enable survivors of GBV receive supports and report cases promptly.
The CRT members are recognized by the traditional leaders as people who uphold the rights of women and girls in their communities.
The project is funded by UNESCO under the Spotlight initiative project and our implementing partner is Cirddoc Nigeria.