16 Days Campaign to End Gender Based Violence

NCCI

Women's Concerns Ministry of National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) will hold a campaign against gender-based violence for 16 days starting from Nov. 25.

Under the banner "Together We Can End Gender Based Violence in Education!", the global campaigners aim to galvanize action to end violence against women and girls around the world.

According to NCCI, the campaign runs every year from Nov. 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to Dec. 10, Human Rights Day.

"GBV (gender-based violence) in education continues to be a serious barrier to educational participation, especially of girls. The prophetic mission of churches in today's context calls for asserting the gospel of human rights and security of vulnerable groups, particularly women, and therefore putting an to end such violence," said Rev. Dr Roger Gaikwad, general secretary, NCCI.

"Schools, from primary level to higher levels and educational institutions of vocational training and non-formal education, are important sites for normative change and have the potential to address gender inequalities and prevent GBV," Gaikwad added.

A nexus exists between food, hunger and gender based violence in education.

A study conducted by Lutheran World Service India Trust in one of its 'School After School Projects' for children in poverty in the urban community revealed that girl children compared to male children cannot concentrate on studies because of hunger.

"Girl children are deprived of food in their own homes," said Moumita Biswas, executive secretary of Women's Concerns Ministry, NCCI.

"On a hungry stomach, a girl child cannot study," Biswas added.