December 2017, Candlelight Office in Sheikh held a one day event to participate the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence under the theme, “Leave No One Behind: End Violence Against Women and Girls.”
Addressing the women/girls participants, Candlelight Sheikh Office Head, Mr. Abdirahman Ismail said, “The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights explicitly states that everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person. This means that women and men, girls and boys have the right to live, and to live in freedom and safety. Gender Based Violence is therefore a violation of human rights. For Candlelight Sheikh Office, protecting women and girls against violence is a key principle in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals”.
The literacy center teacher Aamina Liban, said “Investing in people – especially women and children – is an investment for a sustainable socio-economic development – fundamental in every society. Therefore, I and my students are ready to be part of the campaign against Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting that Candlelight organization and its partners are engaged. We will continue empowering our community through education and bring them a point where they will be ready to take their informed decisions for themselves”.
Gender based violence is rooted in a social construct of gender that is inculcated at a very early age, and is often built upon unequal power relations and unjust attitudes, leading to violent behaviors. Education and fulfilling employment will show the way. A quality education that deepens knowledge promotes a sense of self and expands life skills, opens the minds of the young to a world of mutual respect, learning and self-worth.
