The Lux Terra Leadership Foundation joined the global community to commemorate the 16 Days of Activism against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence for the year 2024. The 16 Days of Activism is a campaign that was launched by activists in 1991 at the inaugural Women’s Global Leadership Institute and which is commemorated annually from 25th November to 10th December.
The foundation’s engagement included a street campaign which was carried out by a number of trained advocates and members of the Lux Terra team. The participants engaged road users in discussions that bordered on the ills of SGBV in society and they were sensitized on steps to take to combat, renounce and report such incidences. There were materials which carried relevant messages for the campaign including banners, posters, placards and stickers which were distributed to road users. This activity generated a lot of interest among road users and passers-by, many of whom lauded the foundation’s effort.
In addition to the road walk, the foundation also distributed strong messages by a high-ranking Christian leader on each day of the campaign via the media. The sixteen religious leaders from different Christian denominations denounced in strong terms all forms of SGBV reiterating how the Christian religion is against such acts. They encouraged survivors to speak out and break the culture of silence. Furthermore, they emphasized the dignity of each human person stating that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity, respect and equality. Among the leaders whose messages were featured are John Cardinal Onaiyekan, Emeritus Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja; Archbishop Daniel Okoh, CAN President; Archbishop Henry Ndukuba, Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion and Pastor Sam Aiyedogbon, Senior Pastor, Realm of Glory International Church.
This campaign is part of Lux Terra’s efforts to eliminate the menace of SGBV in Nigeria.