The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA Nigeria) Abuja recently held a capacity building workshop to train teachers of Government Secondary School, Jiwa in Abuja as paralegals.
The training was to equip the trainees as first responders of Gender Based Violence (GBV) and also as intermediaries between the Communities, Law enforcement Agencies, Judiciary and FIDA.
Addressing the interns, Chairperson of FIDA Abuja, Chibuzo Maureen Nwosu enjoined trainees to take advantage of the training as it will develop their capacities to better contribute to protecting the rights of women and children in their environments.
The Administrative Manager of FIDA Nigeria, Ezinwa Obiajunwa, who facilitated the technical session, commenced the workshop with expected outputs from the training which were not limited to:
1. Gaining knowledge on what constitutes violence against Women and children.
2. Share knowledge and experiences to better cater for the needs of violated women and children in their environments.
3. A better understanding of GBV and applicable laws in order to change the norms.
4. Gain a better understanding of their roles in curbing/eliminating all forms of violence against women and children in their respective environs.
5. Develop skills to respond better to gender based violence cases.
The facilitator however made a presentation on the following topics:
A. Notion of Paralegals (definition, concept, skills, functions and qualities of a Paralegal.
B. Conflict Resolution and Counselling skills.
C. Definition, Strategies for effective Networking, Advocacy and communication skills as Paralegals.
D. Community Engagement.
Bringing the technical session to an end, the Admin Manager, FIDA Nigeria informed the trainees of the basic knowledge acquired to aid them as paralegals and did not confer on them the status of a legal practitioner or qualified legal officers.
The second session, facilitated by the Program Officer, FIDA (Nigeria) Abuja Branch, Chioma Okoye-Chukwuma, saw the trainees engage on matters arising from the provisions of the VAPP Act 2015 and Gender related issues as questions and observations were raised by participants. The Chairperson and other members of the branch responded to poignant questions from participants. The equipped trainees appreciated the branch and promised to step down the knowledge gained at their respective schools and communities.
Concluding the Workshop, Ms. Nwosu thanked the teachers for their active participation, valuable inputs and enjoined them to utilize the knowledge gained to respond to issues of GBV in their respective communities and environs.
While copies of the VAPP Act and Child Rights Act were presented to the school’s principal for the school’s E-library, the trainees were also presented with certificates of participation, copies of the VAPP Act and Child Rights Act at the end of the training to guide trainees in the dispensation of their duties as paralegals.
