Move Partners Western Region in collaboration with the ministry of gender and children’s affairs, has on the 4 December, 2024, commemorated the 16 Days of Activism in Waterloo.
The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is a global campaign that runs annually from November 25th to December 10th, and it is aimed at raising awareness and promoting action to end violence against women and girls.
Its commemoration in the Western Region was held with support from Purposeful and their Donor FCDO.
A float parade was held in the Western Area Rural District- starting at the Bassa Town community. It brought together partners in the MOVE project, the media and other key stake stakeholders, who raised awareness on the theme: “Unite to End Violence against Women and Girls.”
The event was followed with a press conference which was chaired by the Program Design and Quality Assurance Manager of the Forum against Harmful Practices, Mohamed Alusine Kabia.
In his opening statement, Chairman Mohamed Alusine Kabia said that the 16 Days of Activism is a campaign meant to amplify the voices of women, children and disables that are subjected to ill treatment and violence in the society. He pointed out that the aforementioned sets of people are challenged with numerous abuses from emotion to finance.
“That’s why we are pushing hard to amplify their voices in decision making so as to make them relevant in the society.”
He therefore encouraged all and sundry to join the “Real Man Campaign” in support of women, children and disables in the society.
Deputy director of gender representing the ministry of gender and children affairs in the Western Area Rural District , Foday Sesay noted that 16 Days of Activism was initially launched at national level by Her Excellency First Lady Fatima Bio and it was duplicated by their ministry in the Western Area Rural District on 26 November, 2024.
He indicated their mission is to end Gender Based Violence which includes domestic violence, sexual assault, marital rape, school-related sexual abuse, and harmful traditional practices like Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
Foday Sesay stated that this affects women and girls’ economic and social outcomes, particularly in education, income, and leadership.
Doris Fatima Webber, executive director of Women Advocacy and Agricultural Development Organization said that, in a bid to fight GBV, they have formed a movement in the Western Region which is the Move movement.
According to Doris Webber, Move comprises of seven organizations in the region and it’s laced to raise awareness against GBV and fight against FGM.
“GBV does with gender. And when we say gender we mean both male and female. That’s why we are entreating men who equally get mistreated by women to report cases and not shy away from the process.”
