16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence

Throughout CIC’s work we promote the empowerment of women through education and the elimination of violence against women and girls:

- In Sierra Leone our HIV and AIDS training for teachers includes training on women’s rights, the right to say no to sex and informs teachers and parents about the Gender Bill in Sierra Leone which states that domestic violence is illegal.
- CIC works with partner organisation Jinpa in the remote communities of Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (TAP) in Western China, where there is minimal knowledge around health and where the nearest medical facilities are often more than a days’ walk away. Our basic healthcare and midwife training programme is providing young women with the skills and knowledge to improve the health and save the lives of women and children who are too often at risk during pregnancy and childbirth, as well as after giving birth.

- In Afghanistan, CIC is training teachers, police and orphanage staff about the importance of respecting the rights of women and girls not to experience violence. In order to strengthen these projects we are also working with community members and mullahs in particular so that they give their support to this programme and reinforce messages about the prevention violence against girls both in their homes and communities. 
- Our Education Programme in DRC includes raising awareness within the community on the rights of women and girls and promoting education for girls. For children in this conflict-affected area going to school provides stability, structure and protection. Positive results of a change in community attitude have already been shown including a 13.2% increase in girls’ enrolment in the schools taking part in the programme.
- In Liberia our Girls’ Education Programme specifically focuses on increasing girls’ opportunities for gaining education through the set-up of girls’ clubs in schools, a vocational training centre for women and girls affected by the conflict, and women’s literacy classes. In addition, the 200 teachers taking part in the training have received sessions addressing how to make their lessons more girl-friendly to encourage girls to stay in school.

The 16 Days of Activism runs from November 25th 2009, International Day Against Violence Against Women to December 10th 2009, International Human Rights Day to symbolically link violence against women and human rights and to emphasise that such violence is a violation of human rights.

This 16-day period also highlights other significant dates including December 1st 2009, which is World AIDS Day, and December 6, which marks the Anniversary of the Montreal Massacre in 1989, when 14 women students were massacred by a lone gun-man opposed to the affirmative action policies promoted by feminists at the University of Montreal.