The 16 days campaign of activism against gender-based violence

Every year, the world meets to launch a campaign on a theme: ending violence against women and girls. Sixteen days of activism against gender-based violence begins on November 25, International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and will take place as part of Human Rights Day. On the 10th of December.

Organized by UN Women under the theme "Orange the World: #HearMeToo", this year's campaign highlights the voices of women and girls who have survived violence and those who stand up for their rights on a daily basis. The orange color was designated to the cause to symbolize a better future without violence.

"In many parts of the world, women and girls are muzzled. That's why our theme for this year is #HearMeToo because it's about women and girls we have not heard about yet, "said UN Women's Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo -Ngcuka.

The statistics are sinister. At least a third of women worldwide have experienced physical or badual violence at some point in their lives. In some countries, up to 70% of women have been victims of physical or badual violence by an intimate partner during their lifetime.

Today, about 650 million women and girls in the world were married before the age of 18. In West and Central Africa, more than 40% of young women were married before the age of 18. According to UN Women, at least 200 million women and girls alive have undergone female bad mutilation or FGM.

Research indicates that the cost of violence against women could represent about 2% of the world's gross domestic product (GDP) annually, which equates to US $ 1.5 trillion.

Renewal of Africa recently listened to "Orange Voices"

Patricia Essel: "We must act now"

Program Officer at WiLDAF (Women in Law and Development in Africa) Ghana

"The most prevalent form of gender-based violence in Ghana is economic violence. When women are deprived of work opportunities or prevented by their husbands from working, this makes them economically dependent, such as when men control their wife's access to resources or unilaterally decide how to spend their wife's income. Ghanaian women want to be heard when they say, "We must act now. Do not expect tomorrow because it may be too much late. "

Michele Aguey: "Break the silence"

Secretary General of GF2D (Women's reflection and action group, democracy and development)

In Togo, a small country in West Africa, economic violence is a common form of violence, said Michele Aguey, general secretary of GF2D, a women's advocacy group based in Lome. In addition, she referred to the latest official official statistics available to explain the fate of women and girls, including that 9 out of 10 women experienced some form of psychological abuse, 4 out of 10 were victims of physical violence and 3 out of 10 been victims of violence. suffered badual violence. "It's time for victims to be heard," she says, adding, "Victims must break their silence, file complaints and seek justice. Otherwise, violence will continue to flourish. "

Florence Machio: "We need justice for raped women and girls"

Campaign Agent, Equality Now

"Although we have laws such as the Anti-FGM Act, the Children's Prohibition Act and the Sexual Offenses Act, there is no structure in place to support the administration of justice for women and girls. For example, when a child is being raped by a teacher, what mechanisms exist to ensure that he has a safe space to talk to? When a woman is raped at home and driven out at midnight, what structures are in place to ensure her safety and protection? If women are victims of badual harbadment in the workplace, what structures exist to help them get a remedy without losing their job? "

Marguerite Ramadan: "All we want is peace and the end of impunity"

President of OFCA (Organization of Central African Women)

"If peace returned to the country, maybe the worst forms of gender-based violence would be alleviated. In 2017, the UN alone reported 308 cases of badual violence, including 253 rapes, including 181 gang rapes, 5 attempted rapes, 28 forced marriages, 2 cases of badual slavery, and 20 other cases of badual violence. badual badault. Peace should come back so that victims can get justice. "