Our missions are involved in the “16 days of activism against gender violence” campaign to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls
The “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” campaign is an annual international event that begins on November 25, International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and runs through December 10, International Human Rights Day. The campaign serves as a strategic framework for all people and organisations around the world who intend to mobilise to raise awareness and to call for action to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls. The color of the campaign has always been orange: all the initiatives, in fact, are identified by the color of banners and different materials. This year’s global theme is “Orange the World: Stop Violence Against Women Now!”.
The COVID-19 pandemic, causing a sharp rise in unemployment and poverty, exacerbated all risk factors for violence against women and girls, and reinforced many of its root causes, such as gender stereotypes and harmful practices and social norms. Nowadays it is very important to mobilise to deconstruct gender stereotypes and proactively intervene in raising the awareness of men and women so that all forms of violence are eradicated. At the same time, the capacity to intervene in support of survivors of violence must be strengthened. In support of the campaign, all INTERSOS missions are taking action to promote awareness and training sessions on women’s rights, on the deconstruction of gender stereotypes, on female empowerment and gender equality.
Initiatives against gender-based violence in our missions
In Nigeria, for example, our staff has organised many workshops to talk about different topics: prejudices affecting women in the workplace, promoting the safety of women and girls, prevention, treatment and support of HIV / AIDS, how to relate to help a survivor of gender-based violence, how to improve the involvement and participation of women and people with disabilities in communities. Radio broadcasts are also planned to further disseminate campaign messages. In Niger, on the other hand, colleagues have organised a week of meetings that will revolve around the following themes: “Men and emotions: what makes a man of you?”, “Privilege, race and sex: how do you fight the inequality of power in your daily life?”.
The mission in Greece also organised training sessions for humanitarian workers who do not have specific skills in protection or gender-based violence, but who work closely with the community and often find themselves in the position of having to intervene in cases at risk. In Burkina Faso, the mission organised awareness-raising radio broadcasts, itinerant animations to promote psychological support, debates and film forums in schools. Finally, in Lebanon, operations continue to support 5,000 vulnerable people, survivors or at risk of gender-based violence, through the organisation of awareness sessions to intercept cases of violence in communities and offer specialised services for an adequate response.