SPECIAL REPORT: 16days of activism against Gender Based Violence 2017, GRID Network launches book with 16 stories focusing on girls and women with disabilities.

16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence GBV 

Crisis in NW/SW blamed for aggravating violence against women and girls

The Regional Delegate for Women Empowerment and the Family for the North West has blamed the socio-political crisis in the region for aggravating violence against women and girls. Wirba Hassan made the observation in Bamenda Friday November 25, 2017 during the launching of a book titled “16 stories for 16days of Activism against gender based violence (GBV) with focus on girls and women with disabilities” by the Group for Rehabilitation and Inclusive Development GRID Network as part of activities to mark this year’s 16 days of activism against GBV.

16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence GBV

“The Socio-political crisis being experience in the North West/South West regions have further aggravated cases of violence on women and girls. Cases of rape, teenage pregnancies, and outright violence abound especially as many girls are out of school.” He said

Away from the crisis, the delegate also observed that women and girls experience different forms of violence in the society ranging from “corporal punishment, physical violence, sexual abuse bondage, sexual harassment, female genital mutilation, rape, excessive labour, early and forced marriages, unwanted pregnancies, cruel inhumane and degrading treatment, incest, forced prostitution, rape as a weapon of war and deprivation of liberty…..” 

With this year’s 16days of activism GBV being observed with the theme  “No one should be left behind, put an end to violence against women and girls”, Wirba Hassan noted “the theme therefore takes all of us to task and beside besides the work that MINPROF is doing with its partners, the men need to constitute themselves into a task force to join in this fight because these women and girls are our mothers, sisters, daughters and above all our wives.”  He praised the GRID Network for coming up the book and standing by his ministry in combating violence against women and girls and most importantly those living with disabilities.

Founded by the Socio Economic Empowerment of Persons with Disability SEEPD Program, Asheri Ngah representing the Project Manager and Anyangwa Sylvia leader of the Gender and Disability Inclusive Development Group of the GRID Network took turns to emphasize the need to intensify efforts towards ending violence against women and girls specially those living with disabilities as the book carries “stories of compassion, strength, resilience and hope for improvement.” 

In an emotionally compelling review, the reviewers acknowledged the book as relevant but cautioned the readers explaining that if care is not taken readers may resolve to fight perpetrators of violence against women and girls with physical arms. 

Speaking on behalf of the GRID Network as to why a book was chosen as part of this year’s observance of 16 days of activism against GBV Dr Loius Mbibeh Coordinator of the network explained “we decided to use the book as a tool because we have discovered that a lot of celebrations and that documenting of women and girls with disabilities will raise more awareness so this will remain there and people can from generation to generation.” On accessibility he added “we are going to put it on different platforms like YouTube, audio formats, so that if you cannot read you can listen to somebody read for you.” 

Lynn Cockburn GRID Network Project Lead while prefacing the book explains “We choose 16 Stories to represent the wide range of responses that women and girls with disabilities, and their allies and advocates, have shown in the face of difficult situations.  These are difficult stories to read because of the brutality and violence contained within them – but they are also stories of compassion, strength, resilience and hope for improvement.”