MUTED SUFFERINGS YET RESILIENT WARRIORS!

In the heart of a bustling African city, a woman's laughter echoes through the streets as she heads to the market. Little does she know that this ordinary day will be her last. This is not just one woman's story, but the tragic reality for thousands across the continent.

Femicide, the killing of women and girls because of their gender, is a dark shadow looming over Africa. It's a crisis that often hides in plain sight, masked by cultural norms and societal silence. But the numbers speak volumes: in 2021 alone, 17,200 women lost their lives to intimate partner violence.[1] That's 2.5 women per 100,000 – mothers, daughters, sisters, friends – gone.[2]

Yet these statistics only scratch the surface. They don't account for the murders committed by friends, family members, or strangers. They don't reveal the cases buried beneath layers of economic dependency, social status, or corruption. How many stories remain untold, silenced by a system that often favors the perpetrators? There are women like Sarah Ndunge, whose ordinary trip to the market tragically became her final journey on Earth. Her story, like countless others, reminds us of the urgent need to address this crisis.

Amidst this darkness of femicide, there is a beacon of hope: stories of survivors who continue to fight for female safety, actions of Afrikan women to curb this evil, and developments in the educational sector to reform the minds of the youth. Silenced victims but empowered survivors, femicide survivors bravely share their heart-wrenching stories through pained but resilient voices:

"My husband and I had a heated argument, and he beat me up," said Maria, a domestic violence survivor from Tamale, northern Ghana.[3]  She isolated herself to sit and cry. She could not tell the police or elders. Why? Because society made abuse in marriage seem normal. Society denied her the right to even speak up for a fundamental human right to life in front of her mother-in-law. This highlights an extreme cultural challenge women face in rising against abuse and hurt. Stigma. Women are often stigmatised when they speak out against femicide. They are lied to and shamed into believing that femicide is a private matter.[4] In addition to this, the media is often biased in reporting these cases of violence against women. They focus more on the victims' behaviours than the perpetrators' actions. People frequently ask, "But what did she do to provoke such a response from him?" giving the culprits the spotlight and ignoring the issue.

Primitive practices like female genital mutilation (FGM), another inhumane form of violence towards women, persist even today. All these happened in Africa: ancient traditions and modern struggles. Rugiati, an activist and survivor of FGM, shares her pains. She was initiated at 12, days after her mother's passing. The shock and agony were indescribable. She collapsed and bled with each step she tried to take. Having survived this ordeal, Rugiati has created an organisation that allows girls to pass into adulthood without experiencing the cruelty of FGM.  

We remain hopeful. Over the past couple of years, significant progress has been made in the fight against femicide and violence against women. Organisations and governments have initiated programmes to combat these issues. The Spotlight Initiative, a cross-continental programme designed by the European Union and United Nations, was launched in 2017 with the goal of eliminating all forms of violence against females by 2030.[4] In Africa, the African Union's Regional Action Plan (RAP) and Harmful Practices Accountability Framework have made significant strides since the Spotlight Initiative's commencement.[5] These efforts have championed the ratification, adoption, and enforcement of the Maputo Protocol while also propelling forward regional initiatives to tackle harmful practices.

Education plays a crucial role in raising awareness about femicide and violence against women. Educators have been trained to recognize and respond to signs of abuse, creating safer school environments. But most importantly, the masses are being educated. Through social media campaigns like #SayNoToFemicide, community-led women's groups such as the Mothers' Union in Kenya, and school programs like South Africa's 'Classroom Conversations on Gender-Based Violence,' more people are becoming aware of femicide and the need to combat violence against women.

In conclusion, the fight against femicide and violence against women is an ongoing battle that requires collective effort at the individual, community, and international levels. It is crucial to continue advocating for the rights and safety of women, challenging cultural norms that perpetuate violence, and supporting initiatives aimed at eliminating femicide and all forms of violence against females. By standing together, we can strive towards a future where every woman and girl can live free from the fear of violence.

Sources:

[1] Gender-related killings of women and girls (femicide/feminicide). Global estimates of gender-related killings of women and girls in the private sphere in 2021. Improving data to improve responses. Accessed 25th September, 2024. Link: Femicide_brief_Nov2022.pdf (unodc.org)

[2] African women tell of experiences of violence. Accessed 26th September, 2024. Link: African women tell of experiences of violence – DW – 11/25/2021

[3] A Femicide Fact Sheet: Global Stats and Call to Action. Accessed 25th September, 2024. Link: https://www.womankind.org.uk/resource/a-femicide-factsheet-global-stats-calls-to-action/

[4] The Spotlight Initiative: Ending violence against women and girls. Accessed 24th September, 2024. Link: The Spotlight Initiative | What we do: Ending violence against women and girls | UN Women – Headquarters

[5] Spotlight Initiative celebrates progress in creating a violence-free future for African women and girls. Accessed 24th September, 2024. Link: Spotlight Initiative celebrates progress in creating a violence-free future for African women and girls | Spotlight Initiative

[6] Image. Accessed on 27th September 2024. Link:https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-68178445

~Nwadinma Amucheazi, Assistant Editor 24/25 Committee