Association hosts 7711 toll free GBV reporting during elections

ADDIS ABABA- Ethiopian Women Lawyers’ Association (EWLA) has launched the national hotline services, via 7711 toll free call, with a view to combating violence against women in elections.

EWLA in collaboration with USAID and National Democratic Institute (NDI) has capitalized on the program to effectively contain the violence against women. Lensa Biyene, EWLA Executive Director said that the objective of the project is preventing women from Gender-Based Violence (GBV) against women in pre, during and post election scenarios in the upcoming election.

The toll free number, 7711, helps to get free legal aid by EWLA, information about other services at the regional level, healthcare, medical health and others. Besides, the hotline service will increase awareness of the society about violence in a bid to monitor the harassment perpetrated against women during all stages of the upcoming elections, to prevent, mitigate and respond to all sorts of gender Based Violence (GBV) against women.

“It is well known that one of the major barriers women are facing in Ethiopia is GBV, which has resulted in sluggish pace of women political participation as voters, candidates and election officials,” she added.

BY ESSEYE MENGISTE

The Ethiopian Herald may 11/2021

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