Ending GBV in Women And Girls: SOGOC at Forefront of 16 days Activism to fight the cankerworm

By Martial Gnoukapasi

Street walk around the Nkoleton neighborhood educating the population on gender based violence

The Society of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians Of Cameroon, better known by it’s acronym SOGOC, under it’s Advocacy for Comprehensive Abortion Care Project(ACAC), is at the forefront of this year’s activities aim at curbing the rate of violence perpetrated on women and young girls.

The institution which launched this 2023 edition of “16 Days Activism against Gender Based Violence” under the global theme “ Invest to Prevent Violence against Women and Girls” at it’s head office in Yaounde, says violence against women and girls remains one of the most prevalent and pervasive human rights violations in the world.

The launching ceremony of Thursday November 23^rd saw members of the Advocacy for Comprehensive Abortion Care Project network, the Media and members of SOGOC’s National Executive, embarking on a sensitization walk around the Nkoleton neighborhood, educating the population on the need to end violence against woman and girls.

Speaking at the launching, Professor Essiben Felix, SOGOC’s president for the centre region, sitting in for the national president Prof. Emile Mboudou revealed that “ … of an estimated 736 million women – almost one in three – have been subjected to physical and /or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both , at least once in their life”

He added that “ Violence against women has been heightened across different settings, including the workspace and online spaces.. “

A global study by the Economist Intelligence Unit he said, has found out that 38 percent of women have had personal experiences of violence online while 85 percent of women who spend time online have witnessed digital violence against other women.

Professor Essiben said violence negatively affects women’s physical and mental health and we’ll being at all stages of their life and impacts their professional and economic development.

 

“The right of women and girls to live free of violence is inalienable and fundamental. It is enshrined in international human rights and humanitarian law. .. too often women are denied justice and protection from violence. This failure doesn’t sterm from lack of knowledge but rather from lack of investment and political will to meet women’s needs and protect their fundamental rights. It’s time to take responsibility and that time is now” Prof. Essiben added.

Gender based violence which takes the form of rape, domestic violence, female genital mutilation, sexual harassment at work or school and sexual violence especially during arme conflicts like is the case of the north west and south west regions of Cameroon, also has broader social and economic consequences on families, communities and societies, and also impede the achievement of sustainable development.

The Society of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians Of Cameroon – SOGOC, is also using the 16 days of activities  to run through to December 10, to advocate for safe abortion access for women and girls especially from pregnancies resulting from rape , which is a major form of gender based violence, and also help educate women on their Sexual reproductive health rights.