The Kaffrine Regional Family Service officially launched the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, a global campaign held annually from November 25 to December 10. This period begins with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and ends on International Human Rights Day.

Presiding over the ceremony, Ms. Tall Ndeye Sylla, head of the Regional Family Service, emphasized the strategic importance of this mobilization:

"Today we want to launch special ceremonies that start every year from November 25, corresponding to the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and that run until December 10," she explained.

This edition focuses on online violence, a rapidly growing phenomenon. According to Ms. Tall, this theme is part of the national initiative launched by the Ministry of Family Affairs:

"The Minister for Families launched a speech on the topic of online violence that day, November 25th in Paris," she specified.

An action plan extended to all municipalities of Kaffrine

The Regional Family Service is planning a series of awareness and outreach activities across the region.

"We must consider all the municipalities in the Kaffrine region, because it is the departmental directorate of Family Affairs that will conduct guided tours and awareness campaigns, always with the aim of popularizing our actions," said Ms. Tall.

These activities will also serve to further promote the reception center for victims of violence, recently put into service in Kaffrine and presented as a first in Senegal.

"This is the first functional center in Senegal. Even in Dakar, centers have been built but are not yet operational. We truly thank the regional authorities who, upon their arrival, saw the importance of making this center functional, which can provide a lot of support to vulnerable people," she stressed.

A support system and a specialized committee have been put in place pending final validation from the central level.

Towards a gradual reduction in the prevalence rate of violence

Looking back at the impact of actions taken in previous years, Ms. Tall recalled the data from national studies:

"In 2015, a study conducted with experts from the National Statistics Agency revealed a prevalence rate of 53%."

The ANSD 2024 figures show that our actions have a 53% impact; we have reached 16%, although violence persists. Those involved in the fight against violence should also be encouraged.

"We hope that our actions, along with those of other organizations such as the person in charge of violence in schools, Ms. Faty Niang, will contribute to reducing this rate."

However, she acknowledges that the goal of zero violence remains difficult to achieve:

"We know we can't reach 0%, because in every society, there are deviations. But our role is to act to contribute to a significant reduction in this violence."