YARPAH TOWN, River Cess – The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, in collaboration with its partners, celebrated the 16th Day of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in River Cess County. The event, held in Yarpah Town, began with a vibrant outdoor parade that saw participants marching from the main street to the Town Hall, raising awareness about the ongoing fight against GBV.
The celebration, hosted by Concern Worldwide under the theme: “From Talk to Action, Let’s Join Hands to End Violence Against Women and Girls,” brought together key stakeholders, including civil society organizations, local government representatives, and law enforcement officials. Notable attendees included Township Commissioner Janjay Zodehgar and Marcus McGill, Head of the Crime Services Division (CSD), who both addressed the gathered crowd with strong calls for action.
In his remarks, McGill highlighted the pressing need for more social workers to report cases of gender-based violence to law enforcement, stressing that such action was essential in reducing the prevalence of GBV in the county. He also pointed to the critical shortage of logistics facing law enforcement agencies, which hampers their ability to effectively combat GBV. McGill also spoke about the need for a juvenile detention center to accommodate minors who commit sexual offenses such as rape, noting that the lack of such a facility complicates the legal response to these crimes.
“There is a pressing need for a juvenile detention center to house underage individuals involved in sexual GBV offenses,” McGill said. “Currently, this issue is not being adequately addressed due to existing legal constraints.”
County Gender Coordinator, Maima Gueh, also took the stage, emphasizing the lack of resources for survivors of rape in River Cess. “There is no safe home for survivors of sexual violence here in River Cess,” Gueh said, pointing out that the absence of such facilities left many victims without proper support. She also echoed McGill’s concerns about the juvenile detention center, noting the limitations posed by existing laws.
Gueh further explained that the 16 Days of Activism against GBV is a global campaign aimed at eliminating violence against women and girls. The campaign, which started on November 25 with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, includes several key international observances. These include the International Women Human Rights Defenders Day (November 29), World AIDS Day (December 1), International Day of Disabled Persons (December 3), the anniversary of the Montreal Massacre (December 6), and International Human Rights Day (December 10). The campaign concludes on December 10, coinciding with International Human Rights Day.
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