Women for Change (WFC), alongside other Women-Led Organizations (WLOs) in South Sudan, officially launched the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence at Midan Rainbow today. The event brought together government officials, UN representatives, development partners, and civil society organizations committed to ending violence against women and girls.
Speaking on behalf of WLOs, Anna Tazita Samuel, Executive Director of Women for Change, emphasized the urgent need to tackle new forms of gender-based violence in digital spaces.
“This year’s global theme, ‘End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls’, alongside the national theme, ‘Protect Women and Girls from Digital Abuse and Exploitation’, reminds us that while technology offers opportunities, it also creates new risks,” said Samuel. She highlighted that cyberbullying, image-based abuse, online harassment, and hacking are increasingly affecting women and girls, with consequences as serious as physical violence.
Samuel urged all stakeholders — government, partners, civil society, communities, and individuals — to join hands in ending all forms of violence during the 16 Days of Activism, which spans from November 25 to December 10 and includes key observances such as International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, International Women Human Rights Defenders Day, World AIDS Day, International Day of Persons with Disabilities, and International Human Rights Day.
Expressing gratitude to national and international partners, Samuel highlighted that their support strengthens WLOs’ ability to reach vulnerable communities and make meaningful impact. She also called for continued investment in WLOs, noting that these organizations are innovative, trusted, and community-rooted — making them essential for sustainable, local solutions.
Addressing the Humanitarian Country Team, Samuel stressed the importance of maintaining the Gender-Based Violence Area of Responsibility (GBV AOR) as a dedicated platform for advocacy and survivor support, particularly during humanitarian cluster resets.
Concluding her remarks, Samuel urged everyone to use their voices and platforms to end violence against women and girls, both online and offline, and to create safe digital spaces where women and girls can live free from fear, intimidation, and violence.
The launch sets the stage for nationwide campaigns raising awareness about both physical and digital forms of violence, with WFC at the forefront of advocacy, survivor support, and community empowerment