Ondjiva: The acting director of the Social Action, Family and Gender Equality office in the province of Cunene, Antonieta Gerson, reiterated this Saturday in Ondjiva, the commitment to raising awareness in society, aiming to combat domestic violence.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the official was speaking at the closing ceremony of the provincial meeting of Action for Rural Development and the Environment (ADRA), which was attended by 50 women to reflect on the problem of domestic violence. At the event, Antonieta Gerson stated that violence against women, whether physical, psychological, or sexual, represents one of the main barriers to human development, social justice, and gender equality.
She emphasized the necessity of a collective and ongoing commitment from society, involving families, churches, and community leaders, in sharing information to protect women's rights and dignity. She highlighted the importance of promoting education for gender equality from an early age through the strengthening of awareness campaigns on women's economic empowerment, particularly in rural areas.
Gerson pointed out that in the most vulnerable regions, such as Cunene, there are still significant challenges to address regarding awareness, reporting, protection, and public policies to respond to this problem. ADRA director Alice Peso added that the organization has held annual discussions with 620 women from three municipalities on issues related to domestic violence, entrepreneurship, and female empowerment.
Peso explained that the goal is to support women's access to information, distribute laws, agricultural inputs, and promote community fundraising programs for their well-being. She urged women to have the courage to report any acts that violate their rights, in order to build a healthy society committed to well-being.
The one-day meeting addressed topics such as "women's reproductive rights," "economic empowerment as a means of preventing and combating violence against women," "the role of the family," and child marriage in the community. In the first half of this year, Cunene province recorded 55 cases of domestic violence, 35 of which were related to abandonment of the home, avoidance of paternity, failure to pay monthly allowances, and eviction. There were 15 cases of psychological violence, and five were physical assaults.
ADRA began its activities in Cunene in 1996, implementing a project to support community development in the fields of agriculture and education.
