The Medical Women's Association of Nigeria, Rivers State Branch released a press statement to mark the start of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. The statement discusses the importance of the annual campaign in raising awareness about violence against women and girls. It outlines MWAN Rivers' initiatives to prevent gender-based violence within tertiary educational institutions by training student champions and conducting research on risks. The statement calls on all stakeholders to support efforts to curb gender-based violence in Rivers State.

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PRESS STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT MEDICAL WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA, RIVERS STATE
AT THE START OF THE 16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM AGAINST GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE
Every year the United Nations sets apart 16 days to impress upon the entire world the need to do a
lot more about the menace of Gender-Based Violence (GBV). This special time between the 25th
of
November which is the International Day of Elimination of Violence against Women, and the 10th
of
December which is Human Rights Day, is referred to as the 16 days of activism against Gender-Based
Violence (GBV).
During these 16 days, people all over the world take action to address the deplorable situation of
violence against persons and reverse this ugly trend. The campaign against GBV which has now come
to be known as ‘Orange the World Campaign’ uses every means to raise awareness about the need
to prevent and respond to violence against persons. The theme for the 2021 16 days of activism is
‘Orange the World: End Violence against Women Now!’ This is apt because it focuses on the
disproportionate burden of violence against persons borne by women and girls. Women who are the
bearers, rearers, and carers of society are also the worst affected by the negative impact of physical
and sexual violence.
The Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN), the umbrella body of all female medical and
dental practitioners in the country, has a mandate is to improve the health of women and children as
enshrined in her motto ‘Healing with the love of a mother’. Consequently, we bear a special burden
to respond to Violence Against Women and Girls. Over the years, MWAN Rivers has championed and
supported activities to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls. We set up and
coordinated a multi-stakeholder observatory that identified and responded to incidents of Violence
against Women and Girls in the State. This was supported by the National Stability and Reconciliation
Project of the British Council. We have also teamed up with The Foundation for Partnership Initiatives
in the Niger Delta (PIND) to implement GBV intervention activities during the 16 days of activism
against GBV.
Our specific focus this year in line with the theme of the 16 days of activism against GBV is the
prevention of GBV within tertiary educational institutions in the state. Strategically, we will train and
empower young people as GBV Prevention Champions and Advocates. These champions would in turn
use peer-to-peer methods to inform, educate and build capacity among university students to
prevent, defuse and report incidents of physical and sexual violence on campuses. Experience has
shown that passionate and bold young people are best suited to reach their peers as change agents.
The use of broadcast and social media platforms to advocate for an end to GBV will be exploited to
the fullest. MWAN will conduct research activities to understand the pattern and risk factors for GBV
in university campuses.MWAN will also organize campus-based rallies to emphasize that GBV is both
unacceptable and inexcusable.

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As a proud partner of the state, MWAN Rivers will apply the experience gained in this area of service
to support state and non-state stakeholders in the response against GBV. Of special note is the Sexual
and Gender-Based Violence Technical Working Group coordinated by the SGBV desk office of the
Rivers State Ministry of Health. MWAN Rivers urges state and non-state entities to support this office
and its working group to ensure landmark achievements against GBV in the State. MWAN Rivers is
committed to supporting all efforts to curb the menance of GBV in the state.
We are vehement in our declarations.
NO to physical violence on University Campuses.
NO to rape in our universities.
NO to sexual harassment and coercion by authority figures on campuses.
NO to intimate partner violence.
If we each orange our little corners, soon together, we will Orange the World. The time to End Gender-
Based Violence is NOW! We can and we must for ourselves and for generations to come.
God bless the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria, Rivers State Branch
God bless Rivers State
Dr Omosivie Maduka
MBBS, MScPH, FMCPH
President, MWAN Rivers
Thursday 25th
November 2021