Action against gender-based violence

The ‘16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence’ is an annual international campaign that kicks off on 25 November—the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women—and runs until 10 December, Human Rights Day. Every year, the campaign focuses on a specific theme. This year’s theme is “UNITE! Activism to end violence against women and girls”. 

Gender-based violence is the infliction of physical, mental or sexual harm motivated by gender. Women are disproportionately affected. Violence against women is one of the biggest causes of injury and death to women worldwide, causing more deaths and disability for women ages 15 to 44 than cancer, malaria, traffic accidents and war. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that 1 in 3 women worldwide have experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime.

However, violence against women goes beyond the physical and can include limiting decision-making power and access to certain opportunities, such as education. Link’s work in Wolaita, is focused on opening up opportunities for girls’ education. To commemorate the ‘16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence’, we are sharing images from a recent research project. Facilitated by Lewam Dejen, an MA student studying Africa and International Development at the University of Edinburgh, the project aimed to challenge power dynamics. Secondary school students were given a camera to explore how they think Ethiopia’s schools meet their needs and the role education plays in their lives. The photographs document aspects of female empowerment and show how women and girls can and will take action to end structural violence, freeing a wealth of opportunities for them.  

Photo taken by Thun Godana – This girl is a clever student and merchant. In this picture, we can see that she is independent on the one hand and learning on the other hand and that she is happy with her life. I learned from her a hard-working habit and not giving up. So, if she continues working hard like this and also continuing her education then she can change her life. And we can learn that we have to say I can work hard.
Photo taken by Thun Godana – Amarech is a mother of four children and she raised them with a lot of struggle after her husband passed away. In this picture, we can see that she is happy and it shows that there is no good result without hard work. This thing could be more positive when her children learn to graduate and have jobs and then help their mother. And this shows that we can stand for the community by educating ourselves and then educating the community.
Photo taken by Tsegaye Leka – Population number puts economic pressure on a family and a country. Concisely, the size of a family or the number of children, or other people, in a home must be directly aligned with the economy of a family. Similarly, this also applies to a country. In our locality health education, in particular, about family planning is very common. The government is concerned so much in this regard and needs every couple to use family planning. I believe that this is a good idea that needs to be implemented. If a family has a lot of children but couldn’t meet their needs in terms of nutrition, clothing, health, schooling, etc, they might be exposed to different sorts of economic, health, social, and other problems. And they never feel happy in their life. So, applying the family planning package is very crucial to a family in particular and to a country in general.
Photo taken by Abinet Enaso – In this photo, we see a woman who is working handcraft. This woman makes different materials or objects from clay and is well known in our locality. She sells her produce at Shanto market and gets a considerable amount of money. Through this money, she covers all her household expenses and buys school supplies for her children. I learned from this photo that handcrafts are valuable to earn money and supporting ourselves and others.