16-day Activism against Gender Based Violence: Women Community in Africa Takes Campaign to FCT

As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark the 2024 ‘16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence’, a campaign that aims to raise awareness and mobilise action to end all forms of violence against women and girls, the Women Community in Africa (WCA) has taken an awareness outreach to Gofye community in Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The event which held on Monday, was aimed at raising awareness, advocating for tangible solutions and inspiring collective action in combating Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and fostering safer communities for women and girls.

The initiative by WCA , a coalition of women groups that addresses social issues and vices in local communities, reached 84 adults and 43 children in Gofye , equipping them with the knowledge and tools to end GBV and create safe spaces for survivors.

The Global President of WCA, Dr Adetoun Dally, who led the team to the community, emphasised the need for collective community action to eradicate GBV.

“Addressing Gender-Based Violence requires everyone—men, women, and children—to be actively involved. Together, we can ensure that no one suffers in silence, and every victim has a safe space to heal,” she said.
The event featured sessions tailored for both adults and children, as adults were trained on how to recognise abuse, support victims, and advocate for accountability, while children participated in activities designed to imbibe respect, empathy, and non-violence.

Highpoint of the event was the donation of free medical supplies to community members to address their immediate healthcare needs and they were also taught basic health tips , a demonstration of WCA’s commitment to holistic community support.

In his remark, the Chief of the Gofye community, Bitrus Yakubu, expressed heartfelt gratitude to WCA for consistently supporting the community through its outreach programmes.

“We are truly thankful to Women Community in Africa for always remembering Gofye. The leadership of this community is fully committed to ending all forms of Gender-Based Violence and ensuring safe spaces for victims. Together, we will take action to protect our people,” he said.

The event aligns with WCA’s broader mission to empower and support underserved communities across Africa, as it concluded plans to establish a community liaison network to sustain anti-GBV efforts and provide ongoing support for victims.

The international campaign ’16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence’ was launched over three decades ago to combat all forms of violence against women and girls worldwide.

It holds every year from November 25 to December 10 to raise awareness and mobilise action against this wide spread injustice.

These dates were carefully selected to coincide with significant global milestones: November 25th marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and December 10th is the Human Rights Day when, in 1948, the Universal Declaration on Human Rights was adopted.

In 2008, the United Nations Secretary-General launched the campaign UNITE by 2030 to End Violence against Women, which runs parallel to the 16 Days of Activism.

The goal is to create a global platform that highlights the need for gender equality and for the elimination of violence against women in all its forms, both at home and in the workplace.

It serves as a powerful reminder that violence against women is not just a private issue, but a widespread social challenge that demands systemic change.

The theme for this year’s ’16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence’ is “Towards Beijing+30:UNiTE to End Violence Against Women and Girls.”