The Centre for Legal Orientation and Humanitarian Aid Initiative (CELOHA), and the West Africa Network for Child Protection (WAN Network), has officially launched the 2025 global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) a worldwide campaign dedicated to raising awareness and mobilizing action against all forms of violence targeting Men, women, children, and vulnerable persons.
The campaign, which runs from November 25th to December 10th, commenced with a high-level advocacy event drawing civil society actors, community leaders, policymakers, youth groups, and development partners from across the region.
This year’s theme underscores “Unite to End Digital Violence Against All Genders and Girls” that highlights the urgent need to address and prevent online harassment, image based abuse, and other forms of digital gender-based violence.
In his opening statement, the Executive Director of CELOHA, M. Saeed Kano highlighted the growing urgency to address widespread cases of gender-based violence, harmful cultural practices, child exploitation, and the increasing vulnerabilities faced by displaced populations.
This is in a statement issued by the
Centre for Legal Orientation and Humanitarian Aid Initiative (CELOHA) and West Africa Network for Child Protection (WAN).
He stressed that effective prevention requires strong legal literacy, accessible justice systems, community-led action, and coordinated institutional support.
Also, the National Coordinator West Africa Network for the Child Protection (WAN Network) reaffirmed the network’s commitment to improving child protection frameworks across the region, emphasizing the importance of data driven response mechanisms, survivor centered services, and strengthened cooperation among West African states to tackle trafficking, cross-border, abuse, and exploitation.
Over the course of the 16-day campaign, CELOHA and WAN Network will roll out a robust series of activities together with our dedicated partners across the West African states.
The two organizations are calling on government authorities, civil society organizations, faith based institutions, traditional leaders, youth groups, and the media to intensify efforts toward creating safe, inclusive, and violence free communities.
According to the partners, “Ending gender-based violence is not just a campaign it is a collective responsibility. Every voice, every action, and every partnership matters. Together, we can break the silence. Together, we can end GBV.”
