Along with partners—the media and civil society organizations—the Society of Gynecologists and Obstetricians of Cameroon, SOGOC walked through the Nkoleton neighborhood of Yaounde.
With a banner that said, “No Excuse, unite to end violence against women,” the participants, dressed in orange and white T-shirts and caps, interacted with onlookers, car owners, and businesspeople by distributing stickers with various messages.
One of the stickers shared had the phrase, “Break the silence. End the violence. Speak up against gender-based violence. Your voice matters.”
Some males on the streets emphasized that violence against men also exists. The meet-and-greet walk was carried out in a friendly, enjoyable environment.
As she launched the campaign to end violence against women and girls, Sogoc Assistant Secretary Dr. Ngassam Anny remarked that it is a critical moment to unify voices and efforts against this widespread issue.
“It is important to remember that gender-based violence is not just a statistic but affects countless people around the world,” she said. She enumerated the various forms of violence, such as physical, sexual, and mental abuse, pointing out that women and girls are disproportionately affected, suffering from physical and psychological wounds that last a lifetime.
She emphasized that for SOGOC, women’s rights and health depend heavily on having access to safe abortion. “Refusing to provide safe abortion services is violent in and of itself. It feeds the vicious cycles of inequality, poverty, and trauma. Women are more vulnerable to both structural and individual forms of violence when they are unable to make decisions regarding their bodies,” according to Ngassam.
She urged action, stating that it is critical to support legislative changes that increase women’s access to safe abortion services. She emphasized the need to help survivors of gender-based violence get the treatment they require, particularly reproductive health services.
To establish a society free from violence and where women and girls have the freedom to make decisions about their bodies without fear or shame, the assistant secretary of SOGOC urged governments, communities, and individuals to join the cause.
She emphasized the strength of group voices. “By working together, we can build a future free from gender-based violence and where everyone has the right to live with respect and dignity,” she said.
