Women around the world have held activities to mark the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign and they have called for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls. Libyan women held a conference to discuss how they can eliminate violence against women. Drawing attention to the importance of positive psychology, Ghada Maghrabi, one of the women who attended the conference, said, “We try to spread this culture and awareness in our society because raising awareness ends gender-based violence.”

ÎPTÎSAM AXFÎR

Benghazi – 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 10 December, Human Rights Day. Libyan women held a conference with the motto, “Positive Psychology, Vision and Hope” to mark the 16 Days of Activism. The women who participated in the conference held on 24 and 25 November by the Libyan Ministry of Education discussed positive psychology, its importance on health, family, women, and children. We spoke to Ghada Maghrabi, a member of the Libyan Organization for Psychological Counselling and Therapy and the Scientific Committee of the conference, about the purpose of the conference.

“Raising awareness ends gender-based violence”

Stating that the conference actually a call to end the ongoing crises and conflicts in Libya, Ghada Maghrabi said the aim of the conference was to spread positive psychology culture and awareness in Libya. “We held this conference to mark the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign. Positive psychology plays an important role in reducing violence in society, so we are trying to spread this culture and awareness because raising awareness ends gender-based violence,” she told us.

Drawing attention to the recent increase of violence against women in Libya, Ghada Maghrabi said, “Education system and non-governmental organizations should be strengthened in order to reduce the phenomenon of violence in Libya.”

“We have held forums and seminars”

Jazia Al-Mestiri, a Counseling Psychology Professor, stated that there are many forms of gender-based violence, including mental, physical, and sexual violence. “We have held many forums and seminars for women within the scope of 16 days of activism campaign. We have also held forums and seminars to reach children subjected to violence. Many expert people also attend the forums and seminars to raise awareness. There are also social workers and psychological counselors at schools and case management centers have been opened at hospitals to provide psychological support to the children,” she said.

“Children with disabilities should be included in society”

Abeer Abu Hajar, a special education teacher, noted that one of the duties of the special education teachers in schools is to monitor one or two students through education. “Disabled people cannot explain violence because they cannot express themselves or stand against violence. This situation should be taken into account and children with disabilities should be included in society.”