The UN Women and its Partners have stressed the need for strategic and joint action as powerful mechanism for transformative change in addressing the issues of Gender Based Violence GBV in Africa.
The call was made at the Regional Consultation workshop with women’s rights organizations on “Action to End Violence against Women,” organized as part of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
The UN Women Country Representative in Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mrs. Beatrice Eyong while commending the achievement made so far in fighting gender based violence urged women not to relent in amplifying their voices to protect the themselves from abuses.
“The 16 days campaign of activism to end Violence against women should not only be a celebration, but a wake-up call in a context of gender equality push back around the world particularly in West and Central Africa. Addressing and eradicating it requires more than just reacting to violence when it happens; it mandates proactive and innovative solutions. A key to these solutions lies in investing in and empowering women’s rights organizations. YOU possess the knowledge, tools, and determination to reshape societies to be safer, more inclusive, and just”. She said
Mrs. Eyong noted that, it was critical to continue forging multilateral and intergenerational partnerships to achieve the desired goal.
“Recognizing the potential of Women’s rights organization, European Union and UN Women have partnered to develop a new initiative called A.C.T. to end violence against women which focused on strengthening global and regional advocacy, coalition building and transformative feminist action to end violence against women. We ALL need to work together as a region with solidarity and networked, multilateral action and to further increase our work in engaging with Member States to urgently bring about legislative changes, funding long-term legal advocacy for these rights. we must work to change the social norms that drive backlash against women’s rights. We are guided in all of this work by the Sustainable Development Goals, especially Goal 5. Our task now is to ensure that commitments made towards a world free from gender-based violence are accompanied by investment and action.”She added that
On her part, the European Union Representative, Ms. Esme Stuart explained that the coalition focuses not only on immediate solution but on long term.
“This Action Coalition is a multi stakeholder partnership that mobilises governments, civil society, international organisations and the private sector in the fight against gender-based violence. Our commitment to the ACT programme builds on the experience of the EU/UN Spotlight Initiative, that many of you may be familiar with. Through the Spotlight Initiative, the EU and UN, have been working hand in hand with civil society organisations across the continent (including some of you) and in many countries, this partnership has shown that violence against women and girls is preventable.”She explained
Ms. Stuart, also noted that women organisations are the most effective actors to ensure progress and sustainable change on women’s rights and gender equality.
“Women organisations play a central role in advancing the implementation of global normative frameworks, contribute to societal development whilst reaching the poorest and most vulnerable and marginalised women and girls. Women organisations play a central role in advancing the implementation of global normative frameworks, contribute to societal development whilst reaching the poorest and most vulnerable and marginalised women and girls.”She noted
Participants at the event were drawn from Benin Republic, Cameroun, Cape Verd, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte D’Ivoire, DRC, Ghana, Liberia, Kenya, Mali, Niger, Senegal , South Sudan , Togo , Uganda and Nigeria.
Theme for the 2023 campaign is “UNITE! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls”.
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