The U.S. Embassy in Ouagadougou is coordinating activities and outreach throughout the 16 Days Campaign to raise awareness, change the conversation, and combat traditionally accepted gender roles that tolerate violence against women. The UN’s 16 Days of Activism campaign begins on November 25 with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and runs through December 10, International Human Rights Day. This campaign aims to elevate women’s role in society to foster equitable economic growth and development and promote stronger democratic institutions and respect of Human Rights.
The Embassy kicked off the campaign with leadership training for 120 Burkina business women in partnership with the Women of Excellence (CELL) organization. Embassy representatives also supported Les Etalons and the Ministry of Sport at Ramongo Day which featured a soccer match to raise awareness about the problem of teenage pregnancy. On November 28, Ambassador Young attended a workshop to announce a second round of funding for the organization IQRA which focuses on improving literacy and civic engagement in Qur’anic schools especially among female students.
The Embassy recognized three women on November 28 for the State Department’s annual Women of Courage Award highlighting their passionate work fighting human trafficking, improving the lives of underprivileged girls, and helping eradicate HIV/AIDS. The Ambassador announced the nomination of Adélaide Sawadogo from Keoogo association who has risked her life to help victims of human trafficking. The Embassy wishes her nomination the best of luck in the world-wide selection.
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