16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence: Society of Gynecologists, Obstetricians take message to streets in Yaounde.

The activities were officially launched yesterday by SOGOC’s Centre Regional President, Prof Essiben Felix, on behalf of the National President, Prof Emile Mboudou. 

The official launching was marked by a sensitisation walk through the streets of the Nlonkak and Nkol-eton neighbourhoods of Yaounde. 

The walk, aimed at raising awareness against GBV and triggering actions on the pervasive human rights violation, saw the participation of members of SOGOC as well as those of the Advocacy for Comprehensive Abortion Care, ACAC network. 

In his launching speech, Prof Essiben said violence against women and girls takes many forms and is widespread across Cameroon and the world at large. 

According to him, GBV comes in the form of rape, domestic violence, female genital mutilation, sexual harassment at work or in schools, as well as sexual violence which are amplified during times of armed conflicts. 

“Violence against women and girls remains one of the most prevalent and pervasive human rights violations in the world,” the SOGOC regional president indicated. 

Despite the existence of laws prohibiting violence against women, Prof Essiben detailed that weak enforcement and discriminatory social norms remain significant problems.

Prof Essiben Felix launching GBV awareness raising campaign

One in every three women subjected to GBV

Going by Prof Essiben, global statistics reveal that an estimated 736 million women, almost one in three, have suffered physical or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both, at least once in their life. 

“Violence against women has been heightened across different settings as well, including the workspace and online spaces,” he further opined. 

Citing a global study conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit, the SOGOC official regretted that 38% of women have had personal experiences of online violence, and 85% of women who spend time online have witnessed digital violence against other women.

“Violence negatively affects women’s physical and mental health and well-being at all stages of their life and impacts their professional development and economic empowerment. It also has broader social and economic consequences for families, communities, and societies and impedes the achievement of sustainable development,” Prof Essiben asserted.

Women, girls have inalienable rights for a violence-free life

The renowned medic also stressed that women and girls have inalienable and fundamental rights to live their life free of violence as enshrined in international human rights and humanitarian law. 

He also observed that, although equality between women and men is guaranteed in Cameroon’s Constitutions, women are often denied justice and protection from violence.

“This failure does not stem from a lack of knowledge but rather a lack of investment and political will to meet women's needs and protect their fundamental rights. It is time to take responsibility and that time is now,” he pronounced.

He continued that the prevalence of GBV in Cameroon is intricately linked with the sexual and reproductive health and right of the Cameroonian woman with strong consequences on their reproductive health not carefully considered. 

“For instance, we take the case of pregnancy resulting for rape. This is one of the narrow areas in which the penal allows for safe abortion. In a nutshell, abortion authourisation in Cameroon is interwoven with gender based violence thus we can’t treat each of the above subject in absolute exclusivity,” she added. 

SOGOC, he further noted, joins the world to shine the light on ending gender based violence and its adverse effects on the Cameroonian woman’s health.

“The society has a string of activities lined up for the next couple of days to commemorate the event. To this effect, we call on all our partners and non-partners working on gender based violence to actively engage with these activities and be intentional about including abortion related services for rape survivors,” Prof Essiben added. 

It is worth noting that this year’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, which will run from November 25 to December 10, 2023, has been placed under the global theme: “Invest to prevent violence against women & girls”.