Training of 20 legal assistants on gender-based violence in Maputo
On June 13, 14 and 15, 2024, a training of 20 paralegal activists on gender-based violence took place in Maputo, within the scope of the project “Consolidating exit routes from gender-based violence in Maputo”, financed by the Agency Catalan Development Cooperation (ACCD).
Social Determinants of Health
strengthening the legal assistance mechanisms for victims of gender-based violence
The activity that took place at the Caritas Mozambique facilities, in the country's capital, allowed 20 community activists (18 women and 2 men), members of the Hixikankwe Association, a partner organization of the project, to benefit from training on different topics such as: Gender, Human Rights of Women and Girls, and Child Marriages. In addition to these topics, these 20 participants acquired knowledge about the types of violence against women and girls and the different legal norms in this matter, specifically the Penal Code Law, including Crimes Against Sexual Freedom, the Domestic Violence Law, among others.
This training, organized by the Hixikanwe Association and medicusmundi, had the main objective of strengthening the legal assistance mechanisms for victims of gender-based violence (GBV), in the city of Maputo, particularly in the municipal district of Kamubukwana.
One of the participants, the social activist Felismina Chiziane, left us her testimony: “as a beneficiary, this training will help me combat Gender Violence in my community, starting with me, where I will leave aside certain ways of being and being. be, raising awareness throughout society, that we must have an attitude and [commit] to changing behaviour.”
as legal assistants who work to resolve cases of violence against women survivors, it is essential that they have basic knowledge of Law
Nevertheless, in addition to their role in the community to change attitudes and behaviours, according to the trainer and jurist Berília Júlia, “as legal assistants who work to resolve cases of violence against women survivors, it is essential that they have basic knowledge of Law, the multisectoral mechanism and how care should be provided, following legally established quality standards.”
Also, in the words of Berília Júlia, “this training will help paralegals identify cases of violence and refer them to legal institutions.” In this sense, as part of this training package, activists received tools to monitor reported cases throughout the cycle of attention to complaints in State institutions.
In summary, the 20 trained activists will be trained to act as “paralegais” (legal assistants) in gender-based violence, in the neighbourhoods of Maputo, providing support to victims, depending on the type of violence, integrated monitoring of registered cases and technical support to care units.
Activity carried out within the scope of the project “Consolidating exit routes from gender-based violence in Maputo” (2024-2025), implemented by medicusmundi, Fórum Mulher and Hixikanwe Association, and financed by the Catalan Agency for Development Cooperation (ACCD).
Strategies
