Bo City- Sierra Leone; Several West Africans have attended a Thursday in Black awareness at the St. Paul Cathedral, Anglican Diocese of Bo, the awareness is part of the Faith and Justice Network, Gender Justice Awareness Campaign that raises awareness, provide education, and promote healing and justice for survivors of violence.
The ‘‘Thursdays in Black Campaign’’ is an initiative focused on addressing gender-based violence and especially within the context of the church.
Right Rev. Solomon Leonard Scott Manga, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Bo of Sierra Leone, Bishop Dr. James B. Selle, Bishop Episcopal Church of Liberia, alongside delegates from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone were in attendance and showed support towards those who suffered violence.
According to Ms. Marina Thomsia-Paye, Faith and Justice Network, Gender Justice Campaign Coordinator, every Thursday, people around the world wear black as a symbol of strength and courage, representing our solidarity with victims and survivors of violence, and calling for a world without gender-based violence.
‘‘Thursdays in black encourages everyone, men and women, to wear black every Thursday. This can be a campaign T-shirt, other black clothing or simply a campaign badge as a sign of support.’’ Ms. Paye adds.
The campaign recognizes that violence takes many forms, including domestic violence, sexual assault, rape, incest, femicide, female infanticide, genital mutilation, sexual harassment, discrimination and sex trafficking.’’ She noted
At the event, Faith and Justice Network, Regional Executive Director {RED} Rev. Dr. Tolbert Thomas Jallah Jr said, FJN campaign encourages churches to confront the sin of sexual violence head-on, ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable and that justice is sought for victims.
‘‘It moves us to get involve because these crimes against women and children are still happening but I think it has been minimized but our Rape Law in Liberia is harsh.’’ RED. Jallah discloses.
Mrs. Katumu K. Lamine, Provincial Coordinator ,Anglican Diocese of Bo, said 4 out of 5 women in Africa have experienced violence in financial, domestical or sexual form.
Mrs. Lamine joined other women at the event to expressed excitement about the campaign Faith and Justice Network has taken to them.
‘‘In our country not only women and girls suffered from GBV or SGBV but men and boys have their fair share of experience, but it’s our collective responsibility to campaign against all form of violence against all gender.’’ Mrs. Lamine noted.
Gender Based Violence Cases in Liberia
Liberia’s Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection annual statistical report based on GBV shows that, as of 2022 there were 1,975 plus cases that were reported and 73.7% of those cases were rape, sexual assault and other forms of sexual violations.
GBV Cases in Sierra Leone
In Sierra Leone, women and girls experience a lifecycle of Gender Based Violence (GBV). From childhood to adolescence, adulthood, and even as elders, GBV remains a significant barrier to women’s empowerment and their ability to thrive in society.
According to a World Bank report date, March 11, 2024, ‘‘the most reported forms of GBV among women and girls between the ages of 15-49 are physical and sexual violence (62%) and spousal violence (61%). For women and girls living with disabilities the risks of violence are 2-3 times higher than their non-disabled counterparts. Survivors often lack financial resource to access legal and medical services, particularly in rural areas.’’
Gender Based Violence in Guinea
Where as in Guinea, Gender-based violence exists and is increasing worldwide, with higher rates in African regions where gender inequality persists. It affects adolescent girls and adult women. In Guinea, violence against women is a widespread phenomenon. ‘Indeed 9 out of 10 women aged from 15 to 64 have been victim of at least one act of violence.’’ That’s according to Clinmed journals reports.
History Of Thursdays in Black
Thursdays in black started by the World Council of Churches (WCC) in 1980s as a form of peaceful protest against rape violence – especially taking place during wars and conflicts and was revived at the 2013 World Council of Churches (WCC) Assembly. The campaign focuses on ways in which individual may challenge attitudes that causes rape and violence.
The TAMAR Campaign was launched in Kenya in 2005, this campaign seeks to acknowledge the existence of Gender Based Violence in African society with particular focus on sexual and domestic violence and to challenge churches and religious institutions to address the crisis.
