By Politico Staff Writer
The Sierra Leone Association of Women in Journalism (SLAWIJ) has joined the global campaign against gender based violence with activities on the 16 Days of Activism in schools.
The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is an international campaign to challenge violence against women and girls. The campaign runs every year from 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to 10 December, Human Rights Day.
As part of its activism, SLAWIJ partnered with the Patriotic Advocacy Network to take the campaign to over 200 pupils in the Sierra Leonean capital, Freetown.
Two events were held simultaneously at the Government Rokel Secondary School for pupils in the western part of the city and the Government Municipal Secondary School for pupils in the eastern. The participants discussed the importance of the commemoration.
SLAWIJ said in a news dispatch that the events were designed as awareness raising sessions with the pupils to support their development.
The guest speaker at the Government Municipal Secondary School, Madam Augusta Foday-Kalone, a gender activist, spoke to the pupils on the different forms of violence and how they can be bold to express themselves and report gender based violence issues against them, especially the girls. She encouraged the pupils to "focus on their education to carve a brighter future."
Madam Sadia Marah, CEO of Total Woman Network, was the guest speaker for the session in the west end of Freetown. She advised the participants there to behave like school children.
Ms Marrah used her session to throw light on the negative use of social media by school pupils, urging them to be very mindful of what they view or publish, especially on Facebook, Whatsapp and other social media platforms.
The Executive President for SLAWIJ, Millicent Kargbo, said her organization of female journalists feels passionate about the development of women and girls, hence their decision to dedicate their platform for the 16 Days Activism to raise awareness on gender based violence. She said since the campaign started, SLAWIJ members across the country have been hosting radio discussion programs, bringing in experts and playing jingles on important gender related issues. She said the membership also embark on community engagement and broadcast campaign messages via social media.
Mrs. Kargbo noted that as female journalists are influencers in their communities, their contribution to the campaign "will impact greatly on motivating the girls" to aspire to be like them.
She assured that SLAWIJ will continue its girl's mentorship initiative, which they started in October 2020. She said SLAWIJ is ready for partnership with organizations using its platform to support women and girls development in the country.
Copyright © 2020 Politico Online
