UNAMID Gender Advisory Unit and Human Rights Section in partnership with the Military and Police components, launched the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign. The event, held at the Mission Headquarters in El Fasher, North Darfur, under the theme: “From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World, Make Education Safe for All” was attended by UNAMID Military, Police and civilian staff. 

UNAMID Uniformed personnel and civilian staff conducted a march- past to raise awareness on violence against women and children. The event included cultural performances by the Nepalese and Rwandese cultural groups and a quiz competition conducted by UNAMID Human Rights Section on the international, regional and national declarations and laws on the elimination of all forms of violence against women and children. 

UNAMID Force Commander, Lt. Gen. Paul Mella, read the UN Secretary General’s message on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, in which he expressed his deep concern about “the plight of women and girls living in conditions of armed conflict, who suffer various forms of violence, sexual assault, sexual slavery and trafficking” and reminded all that “roughly half of today’s 60 million forcibly displaced people are women”.
 
In his remarks, UNAMID Acting Police Commissioner, Dr. Mutasem Almajali, commended the UNAMID women police officers who provide support to the local community, particularly the IDPs in Camps scattered around Darfur. He stated that 22% of UNAMID Police component are women, who specifically focus on mandate-related women empowerment support in different parts of Darfur.

UNAMID Chief of the Gender Advisory Unit, Ms. Margaret Masenda Simbi, stated that providing security for women in post conflict situations like Darfur, is crucial in the prevention of gender based violence. 

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence campaign, was adopted by the UN and related organizations to raise awareness on the need to eliminate all forms of violence against women at all levels. The campaign, annually begins on 25 November, with the celebration of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and ends on Human Rights Day on 10 December