4th edition of “End It Now” program in Côte d’Ivoire.
More than 300 people gathered in Abidjan to say no to abuses against women and children.
From Thursday 3 to Saturday 5, in the month of December 2015, the Department of Women's Ministries of the Conference of the Seventh-day Adventists in Cote d’Ivoire celebrated in the District of Cocody its “End It Now” fourth edition.
The program was marked by speeches, donations to the population, free diabetes and high blood pressure screenings, conferences, a Devine service and a march.
On Thursday, December 3, despite the heavy rainfall in the town of Abidjan, Adventist women gathered together in II Plateaux district to start the program of fight against violence committed against women and children.
This first day was marked by speeches which indicated that one-third of women are beaten in the world. The donations distribution to the population ended the morning program. A conference on high blood pressure was held in the evening. The second day was spent for the screening of diabetes and high blood pressure and a Presentation on diabetes. Women led the Sabbath morning program which included the Sabbath school, a sketch and the divine service.
A woman preached the sermon. In her message entitled “Love in the family home banishes violence”, Chantal Gonkanou described the ideal home before lingering over verbal violence.
“Home should be the place of joy for all: the smile of a mother and assurance of a husband; a shelter against the external events and threats, a place of refuge against the evil world and troubles, a place of happiness, tenderness and care”, she argued. Unfortunately this haven of peace is overwhelmed by all kinds of violence because of mankind pride.
Mrs. Gonkanou enumerated four categories of verbal abuse she qualified of very subtle. This violence is first expressed by the voice raising, humiliating remarks that create insecurity, contempt and humiliation in the victim. Verbal abuse is also exploitative. Here, the aggressor has a well prepared plan; He takes actions that his victim does not like, to cause her to be falling apart.
Verbal abuse is also called frustration violence. In this case, the partner takes blows without reacting until the day a little fuss makes him or her explode and he or she pours out everything. The other partner is then surprised. Mrs. Gonkanou advised not to justify the action but to listen to the frustrated person pouring out his frustrations. Sometime, verbal abuse is founded on prejudices. The abuser uses prejudices to attack the other partner. “I am of a noble family while you you're of a rural family; you have no diploma, I am better than you…”
Finally, verbal abuse is psychopathological. In that particular case, the torturer is sick or under the effect of stimulant. Mrs. Gonkanou launched a call to the audience for getting involved in the fight against violence by leaning on the Creator.
The Sabbath afternoon was dedicated to the march.
Over 250 women marched on more than 1.5 km brandishing banners and placards, singing and dancing to draw people's attention and tell them "no more violence against women and children".