African Renaissance and Diaspora Network
Côte d’Ivoire Launches Red Card Campaign to Tackle Gender-Based Violence
Across West Africa
Abidjan, 11 December 2023 – The Ivorian Ministry of Women, Families, and Children, in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund and the African Renaissance and Diaspora Network (ARDN), is set to launch the “Red Card” Campaign in Abidjan, marking a decisive stand against discrimination and violence targeting women and girls in West Africa.
Scheduled for December 12, 2023, the campaign, themed “Commitment and Actions for the Implementation of a Regional Strategy of Zero Tolerance to Gender-Based Violence (GBV) by 2030,” aims to secure high-level commitment in the fight against GBV across Côte d’Ivoire and West Africa. The initiative seeks active participation from governments, academia, the private sector, civil society, local authorities, women’s and youth organizations.
Dr. Djibril Diallo, President and CEO of ARDN, expressed enthusiasm for the Ivorian government’s initiative, reinforcing the Red Card Campaign’s launches across West Africa, Africa, the Caribbean, America, Latin America, and the United States of America.
Highlighting the urgency of the cause, Dr. Diallo emphasized, “The fight against discrimination and violence demands commitment and action; neutrality is not an option.”
Global studies reveal alarming statistics, with 35% of women worldwide reporting exposure to physical or sexual violence. In Côte d’Ivoire, 2016 MICS Survey data indicates that 36% of women have experienced physical violence since the age of 15, and 31% have suffered sexual violence from their partners.
The Red Card Campaign aspires to position Abidjan as an international hub in the fight against GBV, leveraging Côte d’Ivoire’s strategic significance in West Africa and Africa at large.
Recognizing that achieving Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 hinges on securing the rights to life, health, and physical integrity for all, the campaign launch will unfold through a high-level official ceremony at the Latrille Évents space in II-Plateaux, under the leadership of the Ivorian Ministry of Women, Families, and Children.
The Red Card Campaign is set to span twelve months, during which an action plan will be devised to monitor commitments, involving all stakeholders. This comprehensive effort will be evaluated at the end of the twelve-month period.
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About ARDN:
The African Renaissance and Diaspora Network (ARDN), headquartered in New York, is an international NGO with public charitable status. Operating in over 80 countries worldwide, ARDN is dedicated to accelerating the realization of the African Renaissance by supporting United Nations programs and priorities.
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About the Red Card Campaign:
Asserting that women’s rights are human rights, the Red Card Campaign draws a parallel with football, where the red card signifies a significant rule violation. Spearheaded by the CEO of ARDN, the initiative seeks to mobilize individuals across West African society to unequivocally reject all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls. The Red Card Campaign serves as a powerful reminder that achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 is impossible without ensuring the rights to life, health, and physical integrity for all.andards to carry out its mission with professionalism.
