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Groups Train Service Providers on the Use of SmartRR to Curb GBV in Elections
Service providers in Ondo State have been trained on the use of ‘SmartRR’ during elections to tackle gender-based violence (GBV) and promote a safer society.
SmartRR is a mobile application that allows individuals to quickly reach out to service providers for immediate intervention, ensuring that people receive the protection they need during elections.
The Big Family 360 Foundation, in collaboration with Emmanuel Foundation, organized the training, which was held on Tuesday, November 22, 2024, in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
The Executive Director of Emmanuel Foundation, Mr. Adaramola Emmanuel, while training service providers , urged them to think creatively and report cases of gender-based violence during elections.
“During the election, even law enforcement agents can abuse people violently. That’s also gender-based violence. It affects people in many ways. For instance, if someone is bullying a man because he is physically challenged and came to vote, that’s gender-based violence,” he stated.
Emmanuel emphasized that these, and other similar incidents, should be reported through the SmartRR application for quick intervention, saying that the public needs to understand that any act of violence against anyone is gender-based violence.
He urged service providers to approach their work with compassion in order to achieve the desired outcomes, noting that everyone should be committed to doing their part to meet the goals of the training.
Explaining the double “RR” in the word SmartRR, Emmanuel said it stands for “Reporting” and “Referral,” which service providers are expected to use to respond to reports and make urgent referrals.
The SmartRR, he further explained, could be downloaded through the Play Store on an Android phone or reports could be sent via SMS by dialing *347*3090# for those who do not have access to Android phones.
He added that the organizers’ target is to have 3,000 users on election day (Saturday) who will use a link sent to them to report cases of violence. The link will allow them to send reports to the appropriate organizations for immediate action.
The Gender Officer from the Ondo State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Ibukun Akindele, stated that the application will aid in the fight against gender-based violence and help reduce it to a minimum level.
He also emphasized the importance of follow-up, encouraging the organizers to ensure that service providers are properly supported to meet expectations when reporting GBV in the state.
“Another thing is that if any challenges arise during the course of carrying out this duty, they should be available to provide the necessary assistance to these service providers,” he said.
A case that has not been handled should be referred and followed up to ensure that justice prevails, he added.
An officer from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, Ifedore Division, Balogun Kayode, described the training as very educational, saying it will raise awareness about gender-based violence and inform people about their rights in relation to GBV.
He advised the organizers not to limit the initiative to the election period alone, but to continue using the application to combat gender-based violence.
Also reacting, the representative from the Ondo State Agency Against Gender-Based Violence (OSAAGBV), Adu Samuel Oluwanifemi, said the training has equipped them on how to inform people about using SmartRR. He emphasized that even without data, the application allows people to report gender-based violence and violence against persons in their communities.
He opined that this development will reduce crime rates in the community, bringing great value to the people and the state as a whole.
“It is going to reduce violence, and people’s lives will be more secure. We will be living in a very safe environment where perpetrators are held accountable and survivors of gender-based violence will receive justice,” he affirmed
Among the service providers in attendance at the training are the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, the Ondo State Agency Against Gender-Based Violence (OSAAGBV), selected Media organizations, as well as civil society organizations.
