International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence

November 25 is the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

This year's motto is #NOEXCUSE and is followed by 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.

ZEF's Gender Group commemorated the Day by hoisting the flag (see photo) whereas the ZEF-led  INTERFACES project organized a special lecture (read more below). 

Gender-based violence

Globally, gender-based violence is still widespread and the occurrence rate persistently high, no matter if we talk about the Global North or Global South. Violence against women and girls remains one of the most prevalent and pervasive human rights violations in the world. Almost one in three women worldwide have been subjected to physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both, at least once in their life.

On November 28, 2023, during a special session of the INTERFACES colloquium serieson “Sustainable land management in sub‐Saharan Africa: Improving livelihoods through local research” Dr. Constance Awinpoka Akurugu, Senior Lecturer at the SDD University of Business and Integrated Development in WA, Ghana (and Visiting Fellow at the University of Leeds), gave a talk about „Gender-based violence in northern Ghana and the role of traditional leaders in combating it“. She told that in northern Ghana’s Savannah region, more than half of all women experience gender-based violence, representing the highest level in Ghana.

Gender-based violence is strongly linked to the well-being of families, to economic development and to the introduction of sustainable agricultural or environmentally-friendly practices. All these factors contribute to achieving equality as well as to the fulfilment of women and girls’ human rights. Without ending violence against women and girls, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will not be achieved.