ASMAA FAHTI

Cairo- The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign that kicks off on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until December 10, Human Rights Day. Globally, one in three women are subjected to violence at least once across their lifetime; less than 40 percent of women who experience violence seek help from an institution of any sort, according to the UN Women.  NuJINHA spoke to several women of Cairo about the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against women.

 ‘Long-term policies should be developed to eliminate gender-based violence’

Mai Saleh, the gender and institutional support consultant at the New Woman Foundation (NWF), emphasized the importance of the 16 Days Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign and said, “The campaign aims to raise awareness on violence, rights violations and discrimination against women. The campaign also supports the works of the women’s organizations. As the foundation, we intensify our activities by joining this campaign every year. One of the measures that can be taken against violence is legal changes and the other is the change of society. Long-term policies should be developed to eliminate gender-based violence.”

‘The campaign raises awareness’

Ola Samir Mohamed, chairperson of the Pioneers’ Association in Alexandria, noted that the 16 Days Activism against Gender Based Violence Campaign is important to raise awareness. “It allows organizations combating violence against women to be more active and make women’s voices heard all around the world. We know that many women are not aware that they are subjected to violence because violence is seen as normal. The campaign raises awareness against gender-based violence.”

‘The campaign is an important and influential campaign’

Damiana Saadi, director of the Welfare Association for Childhood, Maternity and Children with Special Needs, thinks that the campaign is very important to raise awareness against gender-based violence. “Our association holds many activities and events to raise awareness about the women with special needs and the mothers, who have children with special needs because they are most vulnerable to all forms of violence.”