16 Days of Activism, A Collective Call for Action Against Gender-Based Violence
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Blessed Greetings to all!
As a Gender Activist, it gives me pleasure to participate in the 16 days of activism, during which the members of PROCMURA join the Side by Side Faith Movement for Gender Justice and other allies all over the world to raise our voices, create awareness, and disseminate information on GBV/SGBV so that we can take action to eliminate discrimination and promote inclusion using the Maputo Protocol.
As this year’s theme goes: “UNITE TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLs,” this testifies to what the Bible says about the power of Unity in Psalm 133:1: “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.”
Gender-based violence in all forms causes pain, trauma, mental and physical harm and suffering to women and girls, and this is against their human and God-given rights and is unaccepted.
Unfortunately, it has been observed that all over the world, various forms of GBV exist and are perpetrated in the homes between family members (Domestic Violence) or outside the homes amongst trusted friends. Sexual Gender Based Violence, such as rape, Sexual harassment or any form of sexual abuse, incest, is very prevalent today. You also have what we call harmful cultural practices such as Female Genital Mutilation, child marriage, forced marriage and forced abortion; all of these have placed women in vulnerable situations.
In Sierra Leone today, according to UNFPA, an estimate of about 61% of women and girls between the ages of 15-49 years have been reported to have suffered GBV/SGBV. Violence against Women knows no boundaries; it affects all categories of women: young girls, poor or rich, old or young, literate or illiterate.
Sierra Leone has some good Laws on Gender-Based Violence, but Law enforcers do not fully enforce them. Due to political affiliation, more often than not, perpetrators of GBV go scot-free, which in turn has given rise to impunity. As such, some cases of GBV/SGBV are compromised, and as a result, the victims suffer in silence as some family members consider it a family matter, which suggests the existence of an underlying normalisation of violence against the female gender and the prevalent culture of silence and stigma for the victims.
- Even Religion and religious books are sometimes used and manipulated, misinterpreted to justify GBV against women and girls.
- As faith leaders, it is our responsibility to speak out on the wrongs and correct society's rights. We are using this period to engage our churches and mosques with messages, especially targeting male Genders, to join hands to be champions of this drive. Also, we are engaging the media, which is always quick to publish news of GBV acts, to ensure they, too, publish the wrongs that are taking place regardless of affiliation.
- Finally, we are calling on all Governments, Law enforcers, and Religious Leaders all over the world to make the world a better place for Women and Girls to live so everyone will enjoy their God-given right to decide what should happen to their bodies. We are all created for each other, so therefore, we need each other.
Rev. Christiana Sutton-Koroma
Chairperson of the Area Committee of PROCMURA in Sierra Leone