Gender-based violence (GBV) is widespread worldwide and recognized by the United Nations as a human rights violation that has devastating effects at the individual, family, community and national levels, affecting people's physical and mental health as well as their social and economic development. Prevention is therefore also an important point in the United Nations' "Agenda 2030", as set out in two Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 5 and SDG 16). In December 2024, a five-day training course on dealing with gender-based violence was held at St. Walburg’s Hospital Nyangao(Tanzania). 100 participants were sensitized to the topic, informed about their rights and the possibilities of prevention. 50 women and 50 men took part, coming from the villages in the catchment area of St. Walburg’s Hospital Nyangao. Also present were hospital staff who have direct contact with the patients who come to the hospital for treatment and HR managers from various departments.

The main objective of this training was to learn skills and raise awareness on how participants can develop community accountability. This term is used to describe a community-based strategy to respond to violence, including domestic and sexual violence and child abuse. The intention is for a community - a family, a community, a workplace, the neighborhood, etc. - to work together in a process to achieve the following goals:

• Develop and consolidate values and methods that oppose violence and oppression and promote safety, support and responsibility.
• Develop strategies to respond to reprehensible behavior by community members and help them take responsibility for their actions and change them.
• Work on the development of the community and all its members to change the political conditions that favor oppression and violence.
• Provide safety and support to community members who have been violently attacked while respecting their self-determination.

We are delighted that this offer from the community health project of Artemed Stiftung in Nyangao, Tanzania, is so popular and that the jointly developed approaches are being introduced in the various communities.