A night of movie, poetry, and drama/music held at the Tamale Senior High School in the Northern region to mark this year's 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence has empowered both boys and girls to address issues of violence, particularly within the school setting.

With the theme "UNITE! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls," the campaign advocates for children to come together to combat such acts and contribute to building a stronger and more united society.

Organized by the League of Young Female Leaders, this initiative is part of ongoing efforts to eliminate violence against girls and women, particularly in school environments that mirror the broader society.

Ms. Hikmat Baba Dua, the Executive Lead of the League of Young Female Leaders, emphasized that various forms of violence, including sexual abuse, assault, bullying, body shaming, and insults, are predominantly directed at girls and women in and around schools, creating unsafe learning environments for the female gender.

She highlighted that these perpetrators, whether engaging in physical, psychological, or sexual violation, could be students, teachers, administrators, or visitors.

Consequently, she urged both male and female students to collaborate in addressing and eliminating School-Related Gender-Based Violence (SRGBV) to ensure a safe and equitable learning environment.

Gender-based violence (GBV) stands as one of the most pervasive violations of human rights globally, undermining the well-being, dignity, and security of victims, particularly women and girls.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one in three women has experienced physical and sexual violence perpetrated by an intimate partner, family member, friend, or neighbor. UNESCO's data from 2019 reveals that psychological violence impacts one in three students.

In Ghana, the Ghana Police Service reported 16,000 cases of violence in 2020, predominantly targeting women.

Despite the prevalence, various stakeholders in the state, including legislators, religious leaders, the media, public institutions, schools, and traditional leaders, have not adequately fulfilled their roles as guarantors of the rights of women and girls.

The featured film for the night was "SHAINA," chosen for its theme aimed at empowering adolescent girls and young women in Africa and shedding light on the prevalent violence faced by girls in schools and communities.

"SHAINA" narrates the story of a high school girl brimming with potential, who encounters obstacles such as family loss, poverty, and sexual violence, leading her to question her abilities.

Supported by her inner circle, Shaina's talent and passion for engineering ultimately pave the way for her to achieve great success in pursuing higher education with a full scholarship. The movie also delves into the challenges experienced by other girls and women in the context of Gender-Based Violence (GBV).

The Glow Club girls captivated the audience with powerful poetry addressing Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and School-Related Gender-Based Violence (SRGBV).

Their performance aimed to raise awareness among their peers, encouraging them to find their voices, speak out against violence, establish supportive networks, exit unhealthy relationships, seek assistance, and inspire others to take action.

Additionally, the Drama Club of Tamale Senior High School took the stage, presenting a compelling music and drama skit focused on domestic violence.

The performance shed light on the detrimental effects of domestic violence and underscored the importance of supportive families and responsive institutions in addressing this critical issue.

Engaging discussions ensued among the participants, focusing on emerging issues concerning Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in general and School-Related Gender-Based Violence (SRGBV) in particular.

The catalyst for these discussions was the insightful commentary provided by Mr Abdul Rafii Mohammed, the Director of Sanatu Zambang Studios.

Through a detailed analysis of the movie's themes, Mr Mohammed guided participants in exploring the complexities surrounding GBV, shedding light on the specific challenges faced within the school environment.

The discussion aimed to foster a deeper understanding of these issues and encourage proactive measures to combat and prevent such forms of violence.