The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence in a Nutshell

This year also highlighted the International Day of Human Rights by celebrating the 75^th Anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights. The Declaration forms the basis of everyone’s human rights with no distinctions such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.  
     As an integral part of the 16 Days of Activism campaign, EUCAP organised three workshops on gender-based violence for external stakeholders. The counterparts were from the law enforcement agencies cooperating with EUCAP Field Offices.     
     The first workshop discussed on how to draft a gender policy for public agencies like the Coast Guard, Police, Immigration, Prosecution and lawyers, and why such policies are beneficial for everyone. The focus was on ensuring that the working place is a safe and inclusive environment, where women have the same opportunities for career advancement. This workshop was organised by EUCAP with the support of NAGAAD for 13 women within the law enforcement sector. NAGAAD is an umbrella organisation covering in total 46 different women’s organisations.
     The second workshop focused on understanding the root causes of gender-based violence and how to prevent and protect women from it. Mechanisms for that already exist, but there are ambiguities in accessing such services and on responsibilities of the processes. The workshop was committed in close cooperation with NAGAAD. The participants came up with a set of recommendations on how to improve the referral system and improve support to victims/survivors of gender-based violence, when they interact with law enforcement agencies.
     In Puntland, EUCAP organised a workshop focusing on human trafficking, which is one form of gender-based violence. The workshop had 12 participants from PMPF, the Maritime Police Unit, Attorney General’s Office and the Puntland Police Criminal Investigation Department. Trafficking at Sea remains a vicious problem in the region, and Field Office Puntland works to enhance the capacity of the respective agencies to recognise survivors of trafficking.
     Internally, EUCAP had a strong focus on enhancing the understanding of gender-based violence among the staff members. For this purpose, a 16 Day Calendar was introduced. Mission members received daily emails with information, training suggestions or activity addressing the different forms of gender-based violence. The messages strived to deepening of understanding both the root causes of the phenomenon, but also the way forward. 
     This campaign will not get obsolete until we reach the point, where everyone commits to change their own behaviour and have the courage to stand up on violence against women. Unfortunately, based on the last UN Report, with the current speed of development it will take another 286 years until the gender equality is accomplished, which is the requirement for ending violence against women. Therefore, commit to change!