PHOTO: Parade in the streets of Zwedru recently
By Teeneo Anthony Flahn,
ZWEDRU, Liberia- People in the southeastern Grand Gedeh County have joined their counterparts in observing the climax of the 16 Days of Activism against sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in a parade here in the County’s capital.
According to UN Woman, SGBV “is a human rights violation and is an impediment to the advancement of the survivors who are often women and girls, affecting their participation in social, political, and economic activities.”
The 16 days of activism is this year being observed under the national theme: with one voice, let’ s end violence against women, girls and children and unite.
In Liberia, the UN Women “is leading the way in efforts to address the scourge of sexual and gender-based violence women and girls are faced with through a joint programme between the Government of Liberia and the United Nations.” Liberia SGBV Brief | UN Women – Africa
Giving an overview on the 16 days of activism, Nathaniel B. Gee said the ending violence against women and children as well as sexual gender based violence against women and children was initiated in 1991 by global women leadership institution.
He further explained that the 16 days of activism activities began on November 25, 2022 and ended December 10, 2022 to coincide with international human rights day.
The keynote speaker John Gbotoe Gardea stressed the need for dignity, freedom and justice for all.
He called on everyone to be ambassador in the fight of violence against women, girls and children respectively.
Madam Betty Breeze Doh, Assistant superintendent for development Grand Gedeh County expressed happiness and lauded partners and the ministry of Gender, children and social protection for the level support in the fight of violence against women, girls and children and sexual and gender based violence.
The program was organized by Youth in Action for Health Promotion in collaboration with Ministry Gender, children and social protection with support of spotlight initiatives with funding from European union.
A report said that “Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) is not only prevalent in Liberian society; it is unfortunately accepted as an integral part of gender relations. This perception was exacerbated during the war years, as SGBV was used repeatedly as a weapon of war.”