1.0 Background

The research findings which were the reason for the policy dialogue/validation workshop were part of a project titled: Building bridges to end gender based violence and increase young people’s access to sexual health information and services. Funded by Amplify Change, the project was managed by CIRDDOC through the Coalition of Eastern NGOs (CENGOS). The two researches were: Assessing Women and Young People’s Access to Sexual Health Information and Services and Health Budget Monitoring in the six project States.

The objectives of the policy brief/validation workshop were:

• To validate the findings of research carried out by CIRDDOC/CENGOS/AMPLIFY CHANGE on SRHRS and Health budget monitoring
• To share experiences/concerns on issues in the public health sector
• To work out a way forward for reducing sexual and gender based violence and increase access to SRHR information and services.

The policy dialogue took place in the six project states as follows:

1. Cross River State at Calabar – 25^th April, 2017
2. Rivers State at Port Harcourt – 27^th April,2017
3. Imo State at Owerri         – 28^th April, 2017
4. Anambra State at Awka – 2rd May, 2017
5. Enugu State at Enugu – 3^rd May, 2017
6. Ebonyi State at Abakaliki  – 4^th May, 2017

2.0 Methodology

Participants were drawn from the health sector, traditional and religious institutions, CSOs, Media, legal and medical professions, Directors/permanent secretaries of relevant ministries. In all the six states, the following process was adopted for  the dialogue:

Step 1: Dealing with participants’ expectations and concerns

Step 2: Setting the background for participants to understand and appreciate the findings of the researches. In doing this participants were put in three groups to brainstorm on two questions each as follows:

Group 1: From your experience, describe the state of the public health sector in your state. What would you say is responsible for the state of the public sector in your state?

Group 2: What is your understanding of Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights(SRHR) & Sexual and Gender Based Violence(SGBV) and how are youths involved? What is the relationship between SRHR and SGBV?

Group 3: What policy frameworks are available in your state to support SRHR and reduce SGBV? What can you do as individuals, groups, and organizations to help push these policy frameworks?

Step 3: Presentation of research findings for Validation by the lead researcher.

Step 4: Participants drew up actionable plans for implementing.

Step 5: Workshop evaluation.

The outcomes of Steps 1 to 4 will be presented separately for each state due to high difference in the responses; while Step 5 will be presented together because of the high similarity in the responses.

3.0 Findings

3.1: Cross River State

3.1.1 Concerns and Expectations

Participants were desirous of learning more about SRHR and SGBV and how to deal with challenges of GBV in their communities. There were initial concerns on whether some of the key people invited would attend. Cross River recorded 100% attendance and most of them stayed all through the workshop and participated fully (see attendance for Cross River in Appendix==)

3.1.2 Setting the Background

Participants reported that though Primary Health Facilities exit in === of the ==== communities in Cross River State, they were characterized by low patronage, poor service delivery and inadequate manpower. It was also noted that the public health sector was poorly funded and was largely donor reliant. In addition, it was the opinion of participants that access to relevant information from health facilities was a challenge.

On factors responsible for the state of the public health sector, participants listed the following: difficult terrain, poor funding and investment, inadequate budgetary provision, Culture/religion/belief system of the people, inadequate sensitization, inadequate supply of drugs, inadequate frontline health worker/other staff, lack of effective monitoring and evaluation, non-release of allocated funds, poor or non-implementation of relevant policies and lack of continuity in government policies.

Participants’ understanding of SRHR bothered on sexual well-being of an individual and absence of disease, molestation and rape; rights to information, rights to decide when where and how to engage in sexual reproductive health activities such as marriage, sex, having children; right to protection of victims of SGBV from stigma and unnecessary publicity. The relationship between SRHR and  SGBV was described in terms of their being interwoven. According to the participants, one can only enjoy SRHR if SGBV is absent. Drug abuse and rituals were linked to some forms of SGBV such as rape. Female Genital Mutilation was also recognised both as a violation of SRHR and as a form of SGBV.

Participants suggested more sensitization, introduction of sex education at all levels of education, re-establishing customary courts, passing into law policies that inhibit SGBV and those that support SRHR. They also called on traditional and religious leaders to be more proactive in dealing with SGBV and in supporting SRHR.

3.1.3 Presentation of Research Findings

The findings of the two researches were presented on power point with adequate explanations and with support from researchers and budget monitors who were present in terms of their roles in the entire process. The research findings were thereafter discussed in line with participants’ participants’ answers to the questions at the background setting.

3.1.4 Way Forward

Participants were grouped according to their professions/institutional affiliations to work out actionable points that they could implement within a specified time in support of SRHR and to end SGBV.

Table 1 Action Plan for Cross River State CENGOS and Partners

S/N	ACTION	WHO RESPONSIBLE	WHEN	MEANS OF VERIFICATION
1	Enlightenment of fellow chiefs, community members through established structure such as Okada Riders, youth and women groups, etc.	Traditional Rulers	On-going
2	Media campaigns in print and electronic media through articles, features, talk shows, jingles, etc.	Media Practitioners
3	Making bill boards with SGBV/SRHRs messages Organize sensitization /awareness programmes with relevant stakeholders, NGOs should  budget for SGBV/SRHR Monitor implementation of Sex Education curriculum in schools Advocacy to CRSHA	CENGOS & Partner
4	Contact 1st lady to make SGBV/SRHR  an activity in the 2017 carnival and as an item on the work plan of MDF	Mediatrix Development Foundation
5	Free Life Programme with Traditional Rulers, CENGOS & Resource Person Meeting  and discussion with media celebrities	Hit FM, Calabar	7.30 am on 26th April 2017	Programmed aired with resource person in attendance
6	More effective monitoring of implementation of public health policies /programmes	MoH
7	Social media campaign	Individuals and Organisations

3.2  Rivers State

3.2.1 Expectations

Participants’ expectations in Rivers State were to be able to access the findings of the researches conducted; with concerns on how such information would reach the grassroots.

3.2.2 Setting the Background

Rivers State participants listed health services in the state to include the following: Primary Health Care, Free medical care, Maternal and Child Health Care, Roll Back Malaria, Immunization, HIV/SACA, Leprocy/TB, Public health education and Sensitization/advocacy. According to the participants, though the TB/Leprosy/HIV/SACA services were functional, there were challenges such as lack of awareness, drug resistance, lack of family support/poverty, attitude of patients/health workers and lack of effective follow-up mechanisms.

The Maternal Healthcare also had challenges as women did not patronize the facilities but rather opt for TBAs who were more accessible and had more positive attitudes. Other factors limiting patronage of health facilities were:

1. lack of adequate manpower
2. lack of drugs(OS syndrome)
3. dilapidated building
4. lack of equipment/obsolete ones
5. absence of hospital/health facilities in some areas
6. lack of access to health centres/hospitals
7. Poor topography
8. Low security system
9. Youth restiveness/insecurity
10. Poor policy implementation, e.g funding
11. Increasing activation of TBA, reduces patronage of community members facilities
12. Unhygienic condition of hospitals
13. Irregular payment of staff especially that the Local Government level.
14. Unemployment
15. Corruption and poor budgeting
16. Negative attitude of workers

Participants in Rivers State described SRHR in terms of the beginning of puberty of a man or woman to adulthood where sexual functions are fully developed and practised safely within the law. According to them, It also referred to the right of woman and youths to be informed of what sexuality, safe family planning and reproductive practice are all about and the services include: counselling by parents, distribution of condoms and other contraceptives, education in maternity homes and Family life Education in schools.

On the relationship between SRHR and SGBV, participants agreed that SRHR helped to check and prevent the occurrence of SGBV because SGBV is criminalized and when

violence occurs, the perpetrators are adequately prosecuted according to the law. Knowing the rights also reduces the risk of SGBV and traditions and cultures that perpetrate SGBV are overcome.

Participants suggested the following measures to increase access to SRHR and to end SGBV: Education/Awareness on the dangers of SGBV and the need to speak out and to protect victims as well as punish offenders. Organizations, FBO, Traditional institution, were enjoined to make it a responsibility to educate their people on the dangers of the act and on what victims should do. It should be made part of the school curriculum to teach children from young age on what to do to guard against SGBV and dangers of invoking the act. Government should make treatment of victims free.  Budget provision for treatment of victims of SRHRS as well as budget for Sexual Reproductive Health were among the suggestions made.

Policy frameworks in Rivers State were listed as: Reproductive Health Act 2003; Child’s Right Acts and Gender based Violent Act 2016. Participants suggested proper enforcement of the laws, prosecution of offenders, education of the populace on their rights, provision of support units where victims can access the law, More free legal services provided for victims and proviios of free filing for such cases by the judiciary.

3.2.3 Presentation of Research Findings

The findings of the two research were presented on power point with adequate explanations and with support from researchers and budget monitors who were present in terms of their roles in the entire process. The research findings were thereafter discussed in line with participants’ participants’ answers to the questions at the background setting.

3.2.4 Way Forward

Participants were grouped according to their professions/institutional affiliations to work out actionable points that they could implement within a specified time in support of SRHR and to end SGBV.

Table 2 Action Plan for Rivers State CENGOS and Partners

S/N	ACTION	WHO RESPONSIBLE	WHEN	MEANS OF VERIFICATION
1	1. Intensify sensitization, advocacy and enlightenment campaign against SGBV and in support of SRHR	Ministries, Departments and Agencies	On-going
2	1. Interactive programmes, communication, education, news report of cases and incidents 2.Treasure FM will have a phoning programme 3. Campaign for more information at health centre clinics hospitals and community issues of SGBV and SRHR will take centre stage of adolescent programme on the media.	Media
3	1. Carry out legislative advocacy in the gap identified in SRHR and SGBV research2. Communicating and disseminating of existing rights in  SRHR and SGBV 3. NBA/FIDA via our committees will educate the public on the provision of these laws on SGBV and SRHR 4. Will interface with the State House of assembly for possible amendment of the law on SGBV and SRHR 5. Collaborate with the media as a way of disseminating information on SGBV and SRHR issues.	Lawyers/FIDA
4	1. Carry out legislative advocacy in the gap identified in SRHR and SGBV research2. Interface with the State House of assembly for possible amendment of the law on SGBV and SRHR 3. Collaborate with the media as a way of disseminating information on SGBV and SRHR issues. 4. Engage in continuous advocacy, outreach and sensitization programmes on SGBV and SRHR in rural communities.	CENGOS & Partners
5	1. Preach the Biblical  injunctions that support Sexual Reproductive Rights2. Amend old traditions and laws that affect SRHR and SGBV 3. Create/use grassroots platforms for awareness and sensitization on SRHR and SGBV Punish offenders in the communities	Traditional and Religious leaders

3.3  Imo State

3.3.1 Expectations

In Imo State participants expected to be able to  understand the presentation on findings of the researches conducted, how the budget influences the health sector and whether the research covered the grass roots.

3.3.2 Setting the Background

Imo State participants described the Imo State health sector as: generally poor with dilapidated infrastructures, unavailability of drugs, poor remuneration and monitoring of staff, use of non professionals in the health sector to man the Ministry of health, lack of  synergy between public and private health sectors, paucity of qualified manpower.

The reasons for this poor state of the health sector were given to include the following:

1. Lack of maintenance culture and abandonment of existing health facilities while constructing bogus ones
2. Poor funding of the health ministry and non/poor implementation of budget

• Poor motivation of workers – remuneration is poor and not forthcoming, no in-service training.

1. Some government policies are not favourable to private practitioners
2. Some government health service providers divert clients and other resources to their private health facilities, thereby starving government health facilities.
3. Poor monitoring of both public and private health sectors/oversight functions by the state legislature.

Participants’ understanding of SRHR was that it was the right of choice to abortion, number of children, marriage, contraceptives, access to sexual equality and sexual equity. On the other hand, SGBV was considered as any form situational violence that causes physical, emotional, sexual trauma, discomfort to the victim and it is not specific to any gender. Socio-cultural factors e.g. FGM, harmful practice, adolescent reproductive health issues, male dominance(preference), early child marriage/child labour and human trafficking/sexual exploitation perpetrate SGBV. On the relationship between SRHR and SGBV paticipants said SGBV arises as a consequence of non-observance of SRHR

Participants suggested the following measures to increase access to SRHR and to end SGBV: increased awareness on the dangers of SGBV through different channels such as the media, religious organizations, NGO, CBOs, etc

1. reporting of all cases of SGBV to the appropriate authorities for necessary actions
2. improved enlightenment campaign on issues of SRHR among all vulnerable groups(young girls, young boys, widows)

• review laws/polices enforcement of stiff penalties on those who commit SGBV

Imo State was reported to have passed/domesticated the Child Right Act. In order to end SGBV and support SRHR, participants suggested the following: more support for youth and school counselling, dissemination of the child Right Act to make citizens aware of its provisions, quick passage of the VAPP bill pending in the Imo State House of Assembly, enforcement of the provision of the Child Right Act by the relevant MDAs, continuous advocacy on SGBV and SRHR to relevant MDAs and community groups/leaders, and infusion of Civic Education into formal and non formal education programmes.

3.3.3 Presentation of Research Findings

The findings of the two researches were presented on power point with adequate explanations and with support from researchers and budget monitors who were present in terms of their roles in the entire process. The research findings were thereafter discussed in line with participants’ participants’ answers to the questions at the background setting.

3.3.4 Way Forward

Participants were grouped according to their professions/institutional affiliations to work out actionable points that they could implement within a specified time in support of SRHR and to end SGBV.

Table 3 Action Plan for Imo State CENGOS and Partners

S/N	ACTION	WHO RESPONSIBLE	WHEN	MEANS OF VERIFICATION
1	1.Advocacy to management of relevant MDAs for support on SHRH/SGBV –          Ministry of Health –          Ministry of Education –          Ministry of Finance –          Ministry of information –          Ministry of Youths and Sports –          ISPEDC	Ministries, Departments and Agencies	On-going	the evidence of advocacy carried out
2	1. Prompt dissemination of information on Gender Based Violence through various media channels 2.Build synergy between the justice system, NGO and security agencies in matters relating to SGBV 3. Collaborate with schools to help form the alliance with parents during their PTA meetings or other school activities involving parents. 4. Facilitate courtesy visit to media houses.	Media
3	1. Make SRHR and SGBV part of ANC package2.Sensitize and educate all categories of health workers on SRHR and SGBV	Ministry of Health
4	1. Provide free legal service for victim of  SGBV2. Conduct seminars at LGA level to creat awareness and get grass root support. 3. Educate for secret trail for victims of SGBV	FIDA
5	1. Awareness creation/sensitization2.Advocacy to stakeholders/legislation 3.Using existing platform/approaches to carry out outreaches/information dissemination 4.Build collaboration with media(electronic, print etc) 5. Follow up with reported issues of SGBV to logical conclusion. 6.Capacity building for service providers.	CENGOS & Partner NGOs
6	1.Address Primary School Teachers, pupil on the issue of sexual violence/right2.Address men and women in the community through ward leaders autonomous community, President General and Village Chairman and Aladinma Elders Forum 3.Address market women especially through their leaders 4.Information dissemination through churches and Primary health Centres within the autonomous community 5.Educate Okada riders within the community 6.Record cases of SGBV 7.Active involvement of the Eze-In-Council in the activities of youths and women 8.Fight drug addicts in the community 9.Working with vigilante group to curb activities of drug addicts 10.Educate the community members on issues of SRHR and SGBV	Traditional Rulers
7	Dissemination of information/sensitization on SRHR/SGBV	MoWASD		Adverts, jingles, IEC materials, sensitization meeting

3.4  Anambra State

3.4.1 Expectations and Worksop Objectives

Anambra State participants expected to access data on FGM, VVF from CENGOS, to learn more about SRHR and how to reduce GBV in the State. They also wanted to know how the researchers overcame the issue of silence around SGBV in the field and whether there are domestic laws supporting SRHR and fighting SGBV. The initial concern was on attendance at the workshop by key stakeholders. Their expectations were addressed accordingly.

3.4.2 Setting the Background

Anambra State participants described the State’s health sector as: generally good. According to them,  the services and facilities of the public health sector had improved a lot from about 30% to 60%. New hospitals and Primary Healthcare Centres  had been built, and old ones refurbished, keke ambulances had been introduced in rural areas and roads constructed and speedboats provided in riverine areas to increase access. All the general hospitals coulld boast of diagnostic equipment and there had been employment of additional health workers; though more were needed, especially nurses and pharmacists. The N20 million grant given to each of the 177 communities in Anambra for improving their communities helped because some communities used the money to upgrade their health sector. Participants expressed the need for sustainability by constantly maintaining the equipment in the hospitals, employing qualified staff and training.

The reason for the improved state of the public health sector in Anambra state was linked to the increase political will of the government towards meeting the health needs of the people. This was demonstrated by the arrival of the Hon. Commissioner for Health who spent about 1 hour in session and contributed to the discussions around the table.

Anambra participants viewed SRHR as the rights of both partners on issues pertaining to sexuality: when to have sex and children and when not to, rights to services such as: family planning and ante-natal. Youth people, mostly young girls and women are most affected because their rights are abused on daily basis through rape, forced marriages and so on. Young men and boys are usually the ones violating SRHRS and Poverty predisposes young girls and women to SGBV.

To support SRHR and end SGBV, participants suggested that sexual and health education/ awareness/enlightenment be done at at family and community, and school levels and that incidents of SGBV be reported promptly and offenders be punished. They also suggested partnership among NGOs and relevant Ministries.

The following policy frameworks were listed by Anambra participants:

1. Child Rights Act
2. International treaties and convention which advertise health representative policies

• Widowhood Law of Anambra State

1948. The Constitution of Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) 1948.
1949. CEDAW being women conference

On how they could support push the policies, the following were listed:

1. Encouraging victims to open up to institute action against offenders
2. By creation of awareness about these policies

• Simplify the policies so that a layman can understand

1. Quick adjudication of cases in court
2. Removal of rigid and stringent laws
3. Enlightenment of the police/judiciary and the masses

3.4.3 Presentation of Research Findings

The findings of the two researches were presented on power point with adequate explanations and with support from researchers and budget monitors who were present in terms of their roles in the entire process. The research findings were thereafter discussed in line with participants’ participants’ answers to the questions at the background setting.

3.4.4 Way Forward

Participants were grouped according to their professions/institutional affiliations to work out actionable points that they could implement within a specified time in support of SRHR and to end SGBV.

Table 4 Action Plan for Anambra CENGOS and Partners

S/N	ACTION	WHO RESPONSIBLE	WHEN	MEANS OF VERIFICATION
1	Educate community members on issues of  SRHR and SGBV	Traditional Rulers	On-going	the evidence of advocacy carried out
2	Intensive sensitizationPrduction of jingles. Discussion programmes on radio Write articles and features in print media	Media
3	1.Advocate for increase budgetary allocation to health3.Sensitize people on SRHR and SGBV in rural and urban areas.	Anambra State Primary Health Dev. Agency
4	1.Advocate for secret trial for victims to avoid stigmatization2.Provide free legal services for victims of SGBV 3.Organize periodic seminars in local communities to educate people on SRHR and SGBV.	FIDA
5	1. Awareness creation/sensitization2.Advocacy for increase in budget allocation to the health sector .	CENGOS & Partner NGOs

3.5. Enugu State

3.5.1 Expectations and Worksop Objectives

Enugu State participants expected to learn more about SRHR and GBV in the State and what roles they can play as groups and individuals to reduce GBV. They also expected that the dialogue will produce a communiqué will clearly state their roles and create an enabling environment for young girls and women. There were expressed concerns about the absence of pharmacists at the dialogue so that they can address the issue of drug reaction in contraceptive use. Their expectations were addressed with the workshop objectives with the assurance that most of their expectations would be met.

3.5.2 Setting the Background

Enugu State participants described the State’s health sector as follows:

• Poor infrastructure – inadequate water supply, erratic power supply, dilapidated buildings, etc
• Shortage of manpower – inadequate doctors, nurses and other health workers
• Non-committed staff because of poor remuneration
• Poor relationship between staff and clients and this leads to poor patronage.
• Very inadequate equipment
• Not all health facilities benefited from PATHS DRF Scheme
• No needs assessment to determine community drug needs
• Expired drugs from seed stock through the DRF
• Poor remuneration of staff reduces staff performance.
• Some free drugs supplied at the clinics are sold so people buy elsewhere

The reasons for the poor state of the public health sector in Enugu State were listed as follows:

• Poor release of fund
• Reduced political will
• Poor supervision
• Inequitable distribution of equipment and personnel
• Poor attitude of citizens towards government facilities
• Poor remuneration of workers
• Inadequate security
• Lack of capacity building
• Lack of awareness

Enugu participants described SRHR as the rights for people to have safe and satisfactory sexual reproductive life and freedom to exercise such rights and the facilities to access such services. Such reproductive life choices include: choice of the number of children, when and how to have them. SGBV on the other hand was described as having sex advantage over another person without his/her consent, eg. Rape. Youths are involved in use of contraceptives, unsafe abortions, rape and STIs. Both SRHR and SGBV were seen as sexually oriented matters require proper health services

The following policy frameworks were listed by Enugu participants:

1. Widowhood Law
2. Anti-discrimination on HIV/AIDS

• Child Rights Law

1. FGM
2. Equal Opportunity Bill

Advocacy, sensitization and dissemination were suggested as strategies to push the bills/ensure implementation.

3.5.3 Presentation of Research Findings

The findings of the two researches were presented on power point with adequate explanations and with support from researchers and budget monitors who were present in terms of their roles in the entire process. The research findings were thereafter discussed in line with participants’ participants’ answers to the questions at the background setting.

3.5.4 Way Forward

Participants were grouped according to their professions/institutional affiliations to work out actionable points that they would implement within a specified time in support of SRHR and to end SGBV

Table 5 Action Plan for Enugu State CENGOS and Partners

S/N	ACTION	WHO IS RESPONSIBLE	WHEN	MEANS OF VERIFICATION
1	1.Incorporate the SRHR and GBV in facility health talks e.g ANC, Immunization, Family Planning clinics, Free Screening.2.Establish periodic school health programmes on SRHR and SGBV in primary and secondary schools 3.Organise community outreaches for Okada riders, NURTW, age groups and market women on SRHR and SGBV 4.Include Adolescent Clinic and counselling in facility weekly activities 5.Step down information from the workshop to other health workers	Ministry of Health/Health workers	On-going	Evidence of Meetings, Reports of activities
2	Make a report of the workshop to the Ministry and follow up with a proposal to train staff of the ministry; in collaboration with CENGOS	Ministry of Gender Affairs and Social Dev
3	Create talk shows on SRHRS Production of jingles on SRHREncourage columnists to write articles and features on dangers of SRHRS	Media
4	Make a report of the workshop to the Ministry during management meeting and advocate for the teaching of SRHR in schools.	Ministry of Education
5	When the new Education Bill is brought to the House for hearing, we shall ensure the inclusion of SRHR then perform oversight functions on the implementation	Legislator
6	1. Provide free legal service for victim of  SGBV	FIDA
7	1. Awareness creation/sensitization2.Advocacy to stakeholders/legislation 3.Collaborate with media(electronic, print etc)	CENGOS & Partner NGOs
8	1.Review and document traditional values on SRHR and GBV2.Collaborate with CENGOS to support SRHR and end GBV 3.Create awareness among community members through meetings with town unions, churches, health committees, youth, men and women groups.	Traditional Rulers

3.6:  Ebonyi State

3.6.1 Expectations and Worksop Objectives

Ebonyi participants expected to learn better ways of improving the lives of Ebonyi people with reference to SRHR and SGBV and hoped that information from this research would be useful for community members and enable stakeholders to argue for increased budgetary allocations to the health sector. Expressed concerns were the absence of anyone from Family Court and the fear that the workshop would end up like many others with just talk and no follow up actions. Their concerns and expectations were addressed accordingly.

3.6.2 Setting the Background

In describing the state of the public health sector in Ebonyi, participants said that quackery and herbal medicine were thriving in the state because public hospitals lacked basic amenities and qualified health personnel. The Primary and Secondary health facilities were described as moribund because most staff posted there refused to be resident. A medical Doctor present at the workshop confirmed this, explaining that Doctors needed to be remunerated to stay in the rural areas. There were also reports of lack of standard medical equipment which sometimes lead to wrong diagnosis. Other challenges listed were as follows:

1. poor attitude of some health personnel
2. inadequate training and capacity building for staff

• poor access roads

1. distance between health facilities and communities
2. lack of drugs
3. Expired drugs from DRF

• continuous charges for drugs that are free
• Not all LGAs have general hospitals

The reasons for the poor state of the public health sector in Ebonyi State were listed as follows:

1. bad governance
2. bureaucratic bottle-necks

• quackery in the health sector

1. religious and cultural beliefs limit access to information and services
2. lack of sensitization and awareness
3. government-supplied drugs are kept to expire while government officials sell their own drugs

• concentration of qualified health personnel in the urban areas
• uneven distribution of health personnel in the health facilities

1. health policies(provision) available do not cover the basic health needs of the people

Ebonyi participants described SRHR as the right of the individual to take informed decision and control over his/her sexual/reproductive life while SGBV refer to Sexual  violation based on gender resulting in psychological damage. It also includes female education denial, rape, FGM, incest, child marriage, forced marriage. They said that youths are the most violated and vulnerable and peer education without knowledge of SRHR increased the chances of SGBV.

The following policy frameworks were listed by Ebonyi participants:

1. Ebonyi State law to prohibit discrimination
2. CAP 33 Vol. 1 criminal Code Law

• Mother and Childcare Initiative and Related Matters Law Vol.5 CAP 133 pg 2119

1. Ebonyi State Protection Against Domestic Violence and Related matters Law Vol.3 CAP74 page 1293
2. Child Rights Law 2010

Advocacy, sensitization and dissemination were suggested as strategies to push the bills/ensure implementation.

3.6.3 Presentation of Research Findings

The findings of the two researches were presented on power point with adequate explanations and with support from researchers and budget monitors who were present in terms of their roles in the entire process. The research findings were thereafter discussed in line with participants’ participants’ answers to the questions at the background setting.

3.6.4 Way Forward

Participants were grouped according to their professions/institutional affiliations to work out actionable points that they could implement within a specified time in support of SRHR and to end SGBV

Table 6 Action Plan for Ebonyi State CENGOS and Partners

S/N	ACTION	WHO IS RESPONSIBLE	WHEN	MEANS OF VERIFICATION
1	1.Increased awareness of the protection and its impact 2.Improved services for victims of SGBV 3.Give health education in the area of sexual and gender based violence during ANC and immunization	Ministry of Health/Health workers	On-going	the evidence of
2	1.Sensitization and enlightenment2.Documentation (writing journals, books, drama, presentation CD,, etc on the issues of SGBV and  SRHR)	Media
3	1. Provide free legal service for victim of  SGBV	FIDA
4	1.Create more awareness2.Training and retraining of staff on SGBV and SRHR issues 3.Attract funds to increase the health facilities 4.Write proposals to attract funding	CENGOS & Partner NGOs
5	1.Discuss with cabinet members and send town criers to disseminate the information in villages2.Place a sanction on offenders	Traditional Rulers
6	1.The Honourable House Committee on health through oversight functions will carry out inspection of the health facilities and make recommendations to the executive for consideration2.The House will support the Governor to enact a bill on gender equality and sex education	Ebonyi State House of Assembly
7	1.Intensify awareness creation in Churches, mosque, schools, women and youth based organizations, on SGBV and SRHR issues2.Conduct advocacy visits to traditional leaders, opinion leaders, policy makers, coordinators of groups, etc 3.Carry out enlightenment campaigns on print and electronic media on SGBV and SRHR.	Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development

4.0 Discussion of Findings

4.1 State of Public Health Sector in the Six Project States

Field data from all the project states indicated low budgetary allocations to health and especially to SRHR and GTBV. The result of this was evident in participants’ description of the state of Public Health Sector in their states. Although Anambra State had witnessed upgrading  of the sector with improved road network/provision of speed boats keke ambulances  as well as construction  of PHC Centres, there were still challenges of inadequate trained personnel, lack of maintenance culture that rendered hospital equipment non-functional;  and poor attitude of staff. The moribund state of primary and Secondary health facilities in Ebonyi increased the infamous operations of quackery as rightly reported and rendered most of the population vulnerable to self induced diseases through self medication, etc. Women and youths are thus denied of basic sexual and reproductive health services.

4.2 Knowledge of SRHR and SGBV

Participants’ knowledge of SRHR as a basic human right seemED obvious from their descriptions. However, there was a gap as to the extent to which these rights can be exercised and by who and when. In patriarchal societies such as what exist in the project States, women and youths do not have absolute rights in decision making over what concerns them; for instance, though it is accepted that a couple has the right to decide when to have children, how many and what spacing, the men hold absolute rights to take the decision on-behalf of the couple. There were reported cases of SGBV arising from women  trying to access FP  secretly without their spouses. The woman’s right to enjoy sex, decide when and how to have it and to demand it remained nebulous in the minds of  both female and male participants due to age long socialization processes. Religious beliefs that support women’s submission to the man’s will and cultural practices of bride paying that make the woman a property of the man were all inhibiting factors to woman’s access to these rights.

New definitions of sex and rape were shared and these further clarified aspects of SGBV which hitherto were overlooked. It was also clear that SGBV was not specific to females or males. Both sexes were susceptible to SGBV

4.3 Legal Frameworks

There was no paucity of legal frameworks addressing SRHR and SGBV. The challenge in all the States was lack of awareness of these frameworks and how to apply them in the event of denied access to SRHR and falling victim to SGBV. It is therefore critical that CSOs not only push for passage of bills into laws but should channel greater energies to disseminate existing laws to the grassroots levels through simplification and translation in print and electronic forms.

4.4 Way Forward

The outcome of the policy briefing/validation workshop in terms of commitment by key stakeholders was unprecedented and supports the projects’ objectives to:

• To build a movement to end GBV and advance the SRHR of the youth and women.
• To create an enabling environment for marginalized groups including young people to access quality reproductive health information and services.
• To increase awareness of the youth and women on SRHR opening greater space for discussion of often silenced issues of sexuality and reproduction.
• To build capacity of CSOs to deepen analysis and develop skills to advance the SRHR agenda.

This was due to participant’s’ clear understanding of the consequences of continued derived access to SRHR information and services as linked to increasing incidents of SRHR. CENGOS was a task now to follow-up on all the commitments made by various stakeholders

5.0 Conclusion and Suggestions

The Public Health Sector in the Six Project States requires total overhauling if citizens are to benefit from governments spending in the sector, to do this, there is need for increased budgetary allocation to the sector. Denied access to SRHR which to a large extent is linked to the general state of the public sector increases the vulnerability of women and young people to SRHR. A further impediment to ending SRHR is the lack of awareness of SRHR and legal frameworks which support it and fight SGBV. Stakeholders in the Six project States now have a better understanding of SRHR and SGBV. In addition to the findings of the researches conducted, the stakeholders have a good grasp of the salient issues around women and young people’s access to SRHR information as well as their vulnerability to SGBV. Their commitment to be part of the movement to support SRHR and end GBV is timely and desired, and likely to contribute to the expected outcomes of the project thus;

• Stronger and more inclusive movements for SRHR and against GBV (Improved quality of data and analysis that allow advocates to use evidence to support their work).
• Increased individual awareness of SRHR as a human right.
• Transforming social norms relating to GBV and SRHR.
• Changes in Policies and Laws relating to GBV and SRHR.

6.0 Recommendations

The following recommendations are made:

1. State CENGOS should follow-up on the commitments made by different stakeholders
2. All stakeholders should have copies of the report highlighting their commitments
3. CENGOS will need capacity building in the following areas to be able to follow-up:

– Networking and Teambuilding

– Fundraising and Proposal Writing

– Report Writing

– Monitoring and Evaluation

7.0 Workshop Evaluation

At the end of the workshop, each participants was requested to evaluate it, writing his/her thoughts and submitting to the resource person. After cleaning the data, a sample was drawn for analysis. The evaluation was analysed using colour coding of expressions/adjectives describing the following themes:

• Bright green [A] for Content
• Pink [A] for facilitation
• Turquoise [A] for participation
• Gold [A]for learning/impact
• Yellow [A] for logistics and
• Red [A]for challenges.

From the data, it can be concluded that the policy dialogue was adjudged successful and that the participants gained new knowledge from the interactions. The level of participation was high and the strategies for conveying the content were appropriate, making full use of the background knowledge of the participants and linking same to the research findings. Table 7 presents the thematic coding.

Table 7: Colour-coded Workshop Evaluation

CONTENT	FACILITATION	LEARNING	PARTICIPATION	LOGISTICS	CHALLENGES
Impressive	satisfactory	exposed to findings of research	Attention was 100%	perfectly organised	Acronyms  abbreviation and selected writing should be explained
dialogue was very meaningful	lecture was precise	educating	stakeholders from various sectors	atmosphere was conducive	Materials used not made available to participants
expository, very challenging and interesting	facilitator was able to link the group work to the research	exposed me to a lot of salient issues on gender violence	well attended by relevant persons	meals were timely and satisfying	many traditional rulers, pharmaceutical companies, young men, women in leadership position, people with disabilities not present
straight to the point	participatory	I have a better understanding	allowed participants opportunities to express themselves	general flow of time was commendable	attendance by government functionaries was poor
49. The programme is very enriching	lecture was precise	insightful	Participation=Perfect	properly coordinated	the time for the dialogue on the research findings was inadequate
has exposed much issues relating to SRHRS and SGBV.	facilitator was able to link the group work to the research	impactful	well attended	44. Hall=Very good. Meal=Very good	The meeting was fair but no lecture notes for enhanced learning
	participatory,	exposed participants to issues of SGBV	61. Frank and unambiguous explanation and talk about sexual intercourse	54. Planning and organization of the workshop was good	55. Selection of participants is good the workshop materials were not circulated to the participants
	Highly participatory	impactful		was properly coordinated,	The public address system did not function properly
	sessions were precise	new ideas were gotten		62. Organisation of the workshop is good 63. Selection of participants was good.
	lectures well researched and delivered	new definitions of SGBV
	presentations were excellent and matter-of-factly	new ideas were gotten
	good time management	opened my understanding of total openness in discussing
	approach was quite innovative	Accurate timing for each activity Perfect organisation
	participatory and engaging	really opened up many things which hitherto were taboos
	brainstorming exercise was a wonderful	It has given me opportunity to understand more abour SRHR and GBV
	Presentations were satisfactory Wonderful presentation. The research findings captured issues at stake	have learnt that SGBV is not right on our women and young ones in the community
	boldness of the facilitators to call a spade a spade	My initial expectations was fully met

APPENDICES

1. Attendance
2. Notes form the workshop
3. Evaluation notes