Community Empowerment and Peace-Building Foundation: Empowering Women and Youth for Sustainable Change Initiatives From 2019 to 2021

The Community Empowerment and Peace-Building Foundation for Women and Youth (CEPFoWY) has been actively working towards creating positive change in communities through various initiatives. This summary highlights their annual reports from 2019 to 2021, showcasing their efforts in awareness creation, healthcare advocacy, and community support.

In 2019, CEPFoWY organized an awareness creation workshop on gender-based violence (GBV) in Adamawa State, Nigeria. The workshop aimed to educate participants about gender concepts, the causes and effects of GBV, gender budgeting, and the importance of reporting GBV cases. The workshop successfully reached 127 individuals, including 105 males and 22 females. Despite challenges such as lack of funds and security concerns, CEPFoWY’s commitment to addressing GBV in these communities was evident.

Additionally, in collaboration with the Association of Civil Society Organizations on Malaria, Immunization, and Nutrition (ACOMIN), CEPFoWY conducted a project focused on malaria advocacy and accountability in Demsa communities. Through focus group discussions, client exit interviews, and key informant interviews, they reached 920 individuals, providing them with knowledge about combating malaria and accessing free malaria commodities. The project also addressed issues of medication affordability and supply adequacy.

In 2020, CEPFoWY continued its collaboration with VSF to implement a project in Maiha LGA communities. The project involved the distribution of 1,200 goats to 300 beneficiaries, improving their livelihoods. Despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, CEPFoWY successfully supported the beneficiaries and conducted on-site supportive supervision.

Moreover, the ACOMIN project on malaria commodities advocacy and accountability continued in Demsa communities. Through focus group discussions, client exit interviews, and key informant interviews, CEPFoWY reached 920 individuals, ensuring their access to free malaria commodities and educating them on preventive measures.

In 2021, CEPFoWY’s collaboration with ACOMIN expanded its reach to more communities in Demsa LGA. Through focus group discussions, client exit interviews, and key informant interviews, they engaged 1,600 individuals, empowering them with knowledge about malaria prevention and ensuring accountability in the healthcare system.

Throughout the years, CEPFoWY faced challenges such as limited funds, security issues, hard-to-reach areas, poor network communication, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these obstacles, their dedication to empowering communities remained unwavering.

The Community Empowerment and Peace-Building Foundation for Women and Youth (CEPFoWY) has made significant strides in empowering women and youth, addressing gender-based violence, improving healthcare access, and enhancing livelihoods. Their efforts have positively impacted communities, promoting sustainable change and fostering a brighter future. Through continued support and collaboration, CEPFoWY aims to create lasting social transformation and empower more individuals in the years to come.

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  • The Absence of No is Not Yes: Italy’s Flawed Sexual Violence Bill

    Click to expand Image Women demonstrate during a protest organized by the Italian feminist movement "Non Una di Meno" on September 28, 2022, in support of the right to abortion in Turin, Italy. © 2022 Mauro Ujetto/NurPhoto via AP Italy’s new draft law on sexual violence represents a serious step backward from a consent-based approach to addressing sexual abuse. Rather than consolidating consent as the basis for assessing sexual violence, the revised text shifts the burden back onto victims, requiring them to demonstrate explicit denial of consent for an act to be considered sexual assault.This approach runs counter to Italy’s obligations under international law, including the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention). Article 36 of the Convention provides that “consent must be given voluntarily as the result of the person’s free will assessed in the context of the surrounding circumstances.” As a party to the Istanbul Convention, Italy is obliged to amend its legislation to base definitions of sexual violence on the absence of freely given consent. In November, the lower house of parliament voted to amend the Criminal Code to do just that. The bipartisan initiative initially sought to introduce the principle that sex without genuine consent constitutes rape, raising hopes that Italy would finally bring its legislation into line with international human rights standards. But Matteo Salvini, the leader of Lega, one of the ruling parties, warned that the proposed law, in his view, “leaves too much room for individual interpretation” and “personal vendettas, by women and men, without any abuse.” On January 22, Giulia Bongiorno, a Lega politician and head of the Senate’s justice committee, introduced an amendment that removed consent as a defining element of the offense.The revised text re-introduces the notion that only explicit refusal can establish sexual violence, weakening criminal accountability for sexual acts committed against a person’s will. This regressive measure is particularly concerning given the scale of violence against women in Italy. More than one in four women surveyed by the National Institute of Statistics said they experienced physical or sexual abuse in 2025, based on preliminary results. Requiring proof of an explicit ‘no’ ignores that many survivors are unable to physically resist or verbally refuse due to fear, shock, or coercion. Lawmakers should revert to the original bill, and adopt a Criminal Code amendment that clearly defines sexual violence on the basis of the absence of freely given consent.

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