The ‘Amplify Efforts for Equal Opportunity and to End Violence against Women (VAWG)’ project is being implemented by Professional Alliance for Development (PADet), along with Action Aid and Rift Valley Children and Women’s Development. It involves many activities, including the establishment of 7 new Women’s Watch Groups (WWGs) and the strengthening of 3 existing groups by providing capacity-building training for 69 members on leadership and advocacy, along with material support for all 10 groups.
Amezenech Lakew, a 35-year-old single woman with two children, one of whom is a girl, is a member of one of the WWGs. She is from Debdebo kebele (Tachi Merdiye Ambavillage), and following her divorce four years ago, lives with her parents, caring for them and cultivating their farmland. During the divorce, Amezenech received no property from her husband. She was unaware of women’s property rights and had no one to help her resolve the case at the time.
When her daughter, Abebech, was in grade 7, a 22-year old youth requested a marriage proposal from a local religious leader and two other relatives, and proposed the betrothal to Amezench, based on local tradition. However, she declined the proposal and chose to keep her daughter in school, breaking with cultural tradition. Amezenech was invited to participate in peer discussions organized in a nearby village by the executive committee of the Lay Debdebo Women’s Watch Group at the end of 2020. One of the project’s main objectives is to strengthen women and girls’ capacities to respond to various forms of VAWG, and Harmful Traditional Practices (HTPs) such as early marriage and gender inequalities. Amezenech attended regular women and girls peer sessions led by trained community facilitators and became a volunteer after being invited by members of the Women’s Watch Groups (WWG).
She became more aware of early marriage, property rights, GBV, and VAWGs after participating in 4 to 5 sessions. “I never forgot the topics and message transmitted by the community policing officer during the discussion on gender equality and VAWG,” she says.
Due to the motivation she received from participating in the spaces created for women by WWGs, Amezenech persuaded the community elders who mediated the proposed marriage to join and participate in the peer discussion and dialogues to learn about the consequences of early marriage on girls’ lives. Furthermore, she advised them to stop this old practice as it constitutes violence against girls and warned that she would notify the police if they continued. Meanwhile, Amezench freely discussed the matter with her daughter, Abebech, who agreed to reject the marriage proposal and continue her education.
According to Amezenech, "the peer discussion for women and girls provided me with a better understanding of my rights. I used to lose a lot of things without realizing it. Since becoming a front-runner and a strong member of the Women’s Watch Group executive committee, I have also been responsive in defending gender inequality issues for others to protect their rights. I am confident in discussing any issues with my children and can support them at the appropriate time."
