The 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence is an international campaign originating from the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute sponsored by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership (CWGL) at Rutgers University in 1991. Participants chose the dates November 25 to commemorate the International Day of Violence against Women, and December 10, International Human Rights Day, in order to symbolically link violence against women and human rights and to highlight that such violence is a human rights violation. As part of the activities during the 16 Days of Activism against GBV, Women and Children Health Organization conducted targeted awareness sessions with women and girls in Malakal PoC, an activity which 197 women and girls attended and actively participated in.
The activity focused on equipping the participants with key knowledge on Gender Based Violence (the different forms of digital violence, negative effects of digital violence, preventive measures and the reporting mechanisms).
Key issues raised by some of the participants included limited information on the GBV referral pathway especially where they can report cases of digital abuse, limited livelihood opportunities, limited support from their spouses, high rates of alcoholism and silence in reporting cases.
The participants came up with a number of action points which included targeted awareness with men and followed by general awareness on GBV (at food distribution area, churches and water points, incorporating the referral pathway), setting and enforcing strict bye-laws to regulate the time for sale and consumption of alcohol, empowering woman with Income Generating Activities to improve their livelihoods, punishment of perpetrators of violence and embrace non-violent relationships in their families through respecting one another and involving their spouses in decision making processes.