16 DAYS: OPPORTUNITY TO UNITE SOCIETY AGAINST GBV

FROM November 25 to the December 10, 2024, the world will unite under the banner of the 16 Days of Activism Campaign against Gender-Based Violence (GBV).  This year marks the 25th anniversary of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly’s designation of November 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, in memory of the Mirabal sisters, who were brutally assassinated on this day in 1960.  In 2024, women and girls continue to be murdered because of their gender.  Women in the public eye, including those in politics, human rights defenders and journalists are often targets of intentional acts of violence, both online and offline, with some leading to fatal outcomes (UN Women).

Campaign

According to UN Women, this year, the UNiTE campaign will aim to mobilise around the priorities of the Beijing +30 review by emphasising the urgency of strengthening accountability for ending violence against women and girls.  It calls for concrete actions, including holding perpetrators accountable, and accelerating action through well-resourced national strategies and increased funding to women’s rights movements. Violence against women and girls (VAWG) remains the most prevalent and pervasive human rights violation in the world. Globally, an estimated 736 million women,  nearly one in three, have experienced physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner, non-partner sexual violence, or both, at least once in their lives.  In the past year alone, one in eight women and girls aged 15-49 faced intimate partner violence.  If there is no accelerated action, 9 million girls will still marry in childhood by the year 2030. Globally, over 230 million girls and women have undergone female genital mutilation, representing a 15 per cent increase, or 30 million more girls and women, compared to data from eight years ago (UN Women.)

Launched

As the 16 Days is launched on November 25, it is sad that women and girls continue to be the worst affected.  Almost daily, mainstream and social media publish stories of gender-based violence, especially killings of women by those they once loved.  This situation has led to calls by various leading civil society organisations such as the CANGO Gender Consortium, SWAGGA, NATTIC, Men Engage for GBV to be declared a national emergency. It is disappointing that these calls have fallen on deaf ears as the Deputy Prime Minister, Thuli Dladla, was reported as having said there is no need for such a declaration.  The question I wish to ask is, who should die for this to be regarded as unacceptable. The death of one woman, leaving traumatised orphans, has a devastating effect on families and country at large.  Hence, we insist that GBV in Eswatini has reached unprecedented levels to warrant declaration of national emergency.

It is worth noting that Eswatini has made headway in addressing GBV.  The national Constitution affirmed gender equality.  There is a gender policy in place.  The Gender and Family Department in the DPMs Office has been leading government’s efforts to address this scourge for many years, with support from civil society organisations, the United Nations Theme Group and development partners to mention a few.  The enactment of the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act was a major milestone after many years of lobbying for this Act. Unfortunately, even with all these measures in place, GBV has reached unprecedented levels.

What needs to be done?

 Yinyandza leyo le mane!  Every sector of society should fully participate in the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.  This includes families who must engage boys and girls about the GBV crisis in Eswatini and globally. Boys must be taught early in life that girls are equally human and should be respected.  They must be taught that violence is unacceptable behaviour and how to handle rejection. Schools have an opportunity to mobilise and teach girls and boys at school on gender issues and norms in order for the children to understand that they are all equal and human and girls must be treated with dignity as fellow humans.  Girls and boys should enjoy human rights enshrined in the country’s Constitution. Human rights of course, is about human dignity.

The faith-based institutions are also well positioned to use the Sunday schools session to address gender issues, especially gender-based violence.  The Sunday school teachers, pastors and leaders of the churches should be equipped with knowledge about the GBV.  Faith-based organisations including Council of Swaziland Churches, Conference of Eswatini Churches and the League of Churches should organise dialogues to mobilise and empower their affiliates to join the campaign. Government should consider declaring GBV a national disaster.  The country’s justice system should mete harsh sentences against perpetrators.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: