RAISA Gender and GBV prevention Training

 RAISA team implemented gender and Gender Based Violence prevention training for two batches in 2024. Although we want to implement combined training for men and women, considering the sensitivity of the topic and the do no harm principle, we implemented separately for men and women. To be able to offer different gender perspectives of the different ethnic and religious groups, we included the participants from different ethnic and religious groups with different age and educational backgrounds. It helped our participants to learn different experiences in their own communities and give constructive criticism on each other’s culture.

Training were given by prominent feminist trainer, Theinny Oo, who has experience working in Rakhine state and the Rohingya community since 2010. RAISA coordinator and trainer designed the curriculum for training using conflict sensitivity and do no harm approach while offering experiential learning to reflect lived experience of ethnic and religious minorities in Myanmar. Overall, 38 participants from Myanmar and Bangladesh were trained in two batches of training and participants were able to learn the difference between gender and sex, sexual orientation and gender based discrimination in their society which has led to power imbalance and injustice for gender minorities groups. Training lasted for three to four days and participants were highly satisfied by the training method and contents.

One Rohingya participant shared, “I learned that privilege comes from gender discrimination and power. In previous times we as a man thought that our rights were totally wrong. Now I am understanding that man privilege is the root cause of GBV. That we should avoid and we should be more aware of the impact of traditional practices.”

Another participant voiced, “In the past, I sometimes beat and shout at my wife as usual but now I am really sorry for that manner and I will change my attitude and manner to avoid GBV.”

One Rohingya woman shared her experience of domestic violence, “I felt that I was abused by my mother-in-law when she forced me to give birth to my child at home instead of going to the hospital. But I did not realize that reproductive injustice and violence are also important forms of gender based violence against women in our community.”

Men shared their reflections on the discrimination faced by women in their families and communities. Many acknowledged feeling sympathetic toward women and recognized these practices as unjust. However, they also expressed how peer pressure and deeply ingrained cultural beliefs prevent them from challenging these norms within their households.

While most of the men were aware of the discrimination against women, the issue was not a lack of understanding but a hesitation to take action and become agents of change. One participant candidly admitted, *"Personally, I do not support these gender-discriminatory practices that subordinate women, but I feel powerless to challenge them within my family and village because we are told they are rooted in our religion and culture."