There was a significant step forward in community protection as SHUMAS, represented by its Gender and protection officer participates in an insightful training session on safety audits organized by WAC Cameroon and Teen Alive. This capacity-building workshop was held under the impactful "Woman eh wuna place dey" project, generously funded by the UNFPA and its partners.The day's curriculum comprehensively covered everything from a foundational introduction and a GBV safety audit Overview to practical sessions on Tools and the eventual GBV safety audit SOPs development.
A safety audit is a systematic, observational assessment tool used to evaluate the physical, environmental, and social security risks within a community, specifically focusing on identifying vulnerabilities to Gender-Based Violence (GBV). Its primary importance lies in its proactive nature; by mapping out high-risk areas such as poorly lit pathways, unsafe water collection points, or isolated facilities, it allows stakeholders to implement preventive measures before harm occurs. To execute this effectively, the training highlighted the main tools to be utilized, which include structured observation checklists, Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with women and girls to gather direct, lived experiences of safety.
Central to the entire training were the core GBV guiding principles that must govern any safety audit to ensure the exercise does no harm. Participants were deeply trained on upholding safety, confidentiality, respect, and non-discrimination at every stage of data collection and community engagement. By strictly adhering to these principles and utilizing the standardized tools discussed, the workshop equipped the SHUMAS Gender and Protection Officer and other participants with the necessary skills to develop robust Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), ensuring that future safety audits are ethical, survivor-centered, and highly effective in creating safer environments for women and girls.
#GBV safety audit
