Rainbow Initiative Walk With GBV Survivors
By Mohamed Konneh
As part of activities of the 16-Days of activism the Rainbow Initiative on Saturday 3rd December 2022 stage its ‘Walk with Gender Based Violence Survivors’ starting from Up Gun Turntable to Aberdeen Beach. The walk was in solidarity with GBV Survivors geared towards raising awareness on the sexual Gender Based Violence that is still a challenge in the country with the theme ‘Be a champion and end sexual violence’.
Giving the rational of the walk the Executive Director, Rainbow Initiative, Daniel Kettor, thanked donor partners including, Irish Aid, German Embassy and Partners in Health for the support towards the walk.
Mr. Kettor noted that GBV is not good and that society need to guide against it.
He said the walk for survivors is to raise awareness and with ongoing 16-days of activism there are several other activities taking place noting that the walk is just part of activities commemorating the days of activism.
Dr. Sylvia Blyden, Politician and Activist making a statement said she was happy to be part of the walk as part of effort to raise awareness.
She said while as minister she was always supporting initiative of this nature noting that GBV is not something society could keep sealed lip about.
‘We have kept quiet on these issues and that most times people feel when a woman is raped is as a result of the women because of the way they dress. This is not true and that the dress code of a woman should not warrant rape, she said.’
Dr. Blyden noted that GBV should be everybody’s concerns and that society need to make sure that women and girls are protected in this direction.
‘There is every need to protect both man and woman and that the rainbow initiative is one of the best things that has happen to Sierra Leone. We must stop gender based violence and this is something we should not politicizes, she said.’
The German Ambassador to Sierra Leone Jens Kraus-Massé said society need to fight against Gender Based Violence and that the 16-Days of activism is to show solidarity to survivors.
The German Ambassador noted that for girls to realised their dreams they need to be protected and this include government, civil society, the media and everyone irrespective of whom they are.
Ralph Bona from the World Bank in his brief statement said the bank support the work of Rainbow Initiative and will continue to do so.
He said the bank is keen on ending GBV and in all that they do in protecting women and girls and this is exhibited in the work place.
