By Precious D. Freeman
The West-Point Women For Developmental Organization (WPWHDO) over the weekend celebrated the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based violence.
The program which was held at West Point brought together several organization members from different communities and other collaboration partners including Women Solidarity Incorporated (WSI), involving drama, cultural dance among others.
The Project is being supported by ENOUGH Projects through EU Oxfam and Foundation for Community Initiative (FCI) to WPWHDO.
Speaking at the occasion, the Executive Director for WOSI, Caroline Saymu Armah said that there is need for violence against women to be resisted in this 21st century because women were equally born with men.
According to her, men are not to overlook women but should instead tap into their potential because women are the one that populate the nation by bringing forth children.
She added that the 16 Days of Activism is for the elimination of violence against women and girls aimed at creating awareness of the fact that violence against women is human rights.
Madam Armah maintained that women are needed to be respected, because whatsoever men do, women can also do, even better than them, adding that gone are those days when women were treated like slaves.
“Domestic violence, rape and other forms of sexual violence against women and girls, including practices such as the female genital mutilation and early marriage remain prevalent and these acts have to be abolished in its entirety,” she said.
She stated further that violence against women is a threat to sustainable peace in the country, so in order to promote peace; the rights of women should be prioritized at all cost.
For her part, the Executive Director for WPWHDO, Nelly S. Cooper explained that the 16 Days Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is an international campaign to challenge violence against women and girls, which runs every year from November 25 to December 10 in observance of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, Human Rights Day.
She added that, that event was initiated in 1991 by the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute held by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership (CWGL) at Rutgers University and since then every year from November 25 to December 10 this event is being celebrated all around the world.