CLEEN Foundation trains 30 PCRC leaders on preventing GBV
An NGO, CLEEN Foundation, with support from the Ford Foundation, has trained no fewer than 30 leaders of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) across Northern Nigeria to strengthen their role in preventing Gender-based Violence (GBV) in communities.
Speaking at the two-day training on Monday in Kaduna, the Programme Director of the foundation, Mr Salaudeen Hashim, said the aim of the workshop was to equip PCRC members with the tools and knowledge needed to support the prevention and response to GBV.
Hashim described the PCRC as a critical bridge between communities and the Nigeria Police Force, adding that their role goes beyond committee duties to serving as the eyes, ears and voices of the public.
He explained that increased economic hardship had contributed to rising cases of GBV, with some incidents involving community members and others occurring during law enforcement operations.
Hashim said the training would help PCRC members understand reporting protocols, case management, referral pathways and the sensitivity required in handling incidents of abuse.
The director added that the foundation would support the PCRC to develop a national action plan on sexual and GBV, provide tool kits for preventive mechanisms and introduce forensic testing kits to aid evidence preservation for prosecution.
He stated that collaboration with laboratories would also be strengthened to ensure forensic support is available when needed.
According to him, the foundation is emphasising community and law enforcement monitoring as a key prevention strategy.
Hashim said adequate preventive infrastructure would significantly reduce violations, while communities must also understand that GBV is a criminal offence that must be prosecuted to deter offenders.
The programme director said a similar programme had earlier been held for PCRC leaders from the southern region in Lagos.
The National Chairman of the PCRC, Alhaji Mogaji Olaniyan, described the workshop as a “training of trainers,” explaining that leaders from across the Northern region would transfer the knowledge gained to their local communities.
He said the gains from a previous Southern training held in Lagos had already been implemented, and the fresh insights from Abuja would be discussed further at the committee’s upcoming national meeting.
Olaniyan identified inadequate funding as the biggest challenge hindering PCRC’s advocacy work, noting that the training support from the CLEEN foundation is crucial in bridging the gap.
He said the members must first be well trained before they could effectively educate others, describing the ongoing workshop as an eye-opener that would enhance their service to society.
Citing a recent case in Delta where a PCRC-trained teacher reported a man who allegedly abused his three biological children, Olaniyan said the incident demonstrated the impact of sensitising community members.
He explained that the PCRC had intensified its work in schools because children especially girls who account for about 76 per cent of victims remain highly vulnerable.
According to him, the committee has been training parents, guardians and teachers and has been moving from school to school to strengthen awareness.
Olaniyan restated the organisation’s commitment towards doubling its efforts by expanding outreach to markets and other public spaces, adding that this would form part of his directive at the PCRC’s 27th national meeting.
Supreme news reports that the training featured sessions on GBV prevention, evidence handling and strengthening collaboration between communities and law enforcement, among others.
