Sahle-Work Zewde, President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, has launched the international White Ribbon Campaign to prevent gender-based violence in Ethiopia
ADDIS ABABA (ENA) – President Sahle-Work Zewde has launched a two-week International White Ribbon Campaign in Hawassa to prevent and eliminate gender-based violence in the country.
The objective of the Campaign is to spur a nationwide movement to implement national plans to prevent and eliminate gender-based violence in Ethiopia.
White Ribbon Campaign, the International Day for the Eradication of Violence against Women, is held on November 25th annually to undertake awareness-raising campaign to prevent and eradicate violence against women. It is being celebrated for the 31st and 17th time globally and in Ethiopia, respectively, this year.
In Ethiopia, the day is being celebrated under the theme “I Respect Women and Prevent Violence against Them.”
The nationwide White Ribbon Campaign will be undertaken for 16 consecutive days with various awareness-creation events, it was learned, including social media engagements by different local and international organizations/offices with “#16daysEthiopia”.
The events would help raise awareness about the social and economic harm caused by gender-based violence and focus on activities that could prevent the problem in a sustainable way.
It was indicated that especially in different regions of Ethiopia, the government, non-governmental organizations, and society should pay more attention to the women in their area.
The launching program was attended by President Sahle-Work Zewde, Sidama Regional State Chief Administrator Desta Lodamo, Women and Social Affairs Minister Ergogie Tesfaye (PhD), and other senior government officials.
White Ribbon Campaign is the world’s largest movement of men and boys working to end violence against women and girls, promote gender equity, healthy relationships, and a new vision of masculinity. The Campaign mainly involves engaging men and boys in the prevention of gender-based violence by promoting equity and transforming social norms. It also challenges men and boys to realize their potential to be part of the solution in ending all forms of gender-based violence.
Source: Ethiopian News Agency (ENA)