[ 2012-08-14 ]

ECOWAS campaigns to end violence against women
Accra, Aug. 14, GNA - The Economic Community of
West African States (ECOWAS) Commission and the
Africa Unite Campaign are rallying ECOWAS Member
States to help end violence against women and
girls in sub-Saharan Africa.

To this end, the Fifth Regional Committee Meeting
of Africa Unite held at the headquarters of ECOWAS
Commission in Abuja on August 2nd to 3rd, agreed
on the joint implementation of Africa Unite's
communication strategy by the two organisations.

A statement issued by the Department of
Communication, ECOWAS Commission copied to Ghana
News Agency in Accra on Tuesday said using the
strategy, Africa Unite and partners were expected
to shed more light on violence against women and
girls, and also increase public awareness and
social mobilisation against the phenomenon.

The campaign will help mobilise support for
African Governments to fulfil their commitments to
end violence against women and girls as well as
empower women and their communities to stop
violence by demanding accountability.

The statement said Dr Adrienne Diop, Commissioner
for Human Development and Gender, reaffirmed
ECOWAS' commitment to the campaign, with Africa
Unite and the UN Women as allies.

Similarly, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Political
Affairs, Peace and Security, Mrs Salamatu Hussaini
Suleiman, noted that women were always vulnerable
during conflicts in the Region.

Ms Jennet Kem, a representative of Africa Unite,
the Regional Component of the UN campaign to end
violence against women and girls, said the group
would continue to adopt and enforce national laws
to address and punish all forms of violence
against women and girls.

The statement said the group argued that violence
prevented women from enjoying human rights and
fundamental freedoms such as the right to life and
security of persons to attain the highest
standards of physical and mental health,
education, work and housing, and to participate in
public life.

Africa Unite is an inter-agency initiative that
groups some 14 UN organisations in support of
African countries to undertake coordinated,
substantial and sustained actions to eliminate
violence against women and girls.

The meeting was also attended by representatives
of UN Women, the UN Economic Commission for
Africa, the Swedish Ambassador in Nigeria and
officials of the ECOWAS Commission.

Source - GNA

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