Tackling gender-based violence in Ethiopia

The Women of Concern group is helping women in Ethiopia cope with gender-based violence.

Gender violence is extremely common in Ethiopia. Female genital mutilation affects 73% of women and girls, and early marriage is forced on 33% of girls below the age of 15. Abduction, often followed by a forced marriage and rape, is practised extensively. Trafficking of girls and women and sexual exploitation is widespread. 

Women in Ethiopia are already vulnerable. Female literacy is only at 35% and life expectancy is 47 years.

Asking for help

Concern is working to increase awareness of gender violence so that women are more likely to ask for help. We also work with communities to reduce the prevalence of this violence.

South Wollo, in the remote north west of Ethiopia, is home to one of Concern’s most innovative programmes. We’re supporting a local partner, Women’s Support Association (WSA) to tackle gender-based violence. They have formed 108 self-help groups which has enabled 2,000 women to quickly transform their lives.

Zemu Kemal’s story

Zemu joined her local group last September. She didn’t realise before that women could have rights. She says “Now I’m not afraid to talk about what happens in our communities and how hard life is for women. I feel confident that I can talk to my husband and he will listen to me.”

She understands well what women have to face: she suffered female genital mutilation as a child and was married against her will at 16. Some years later, Zemu lost her husband and children to preventable illnesses caused by unclean water.

Make that change

Although she is now remarried with a healthy son, she hasn’t forgotten her earlier pain. She says: “I do not want anyone to have to get married so young, or have children and lose them because we have no means to help them. Groups like this can make that change.”

Zemu now feels empowered and positive about the future. Her home life and relationship with her husband has improved; she now contributes to the decisions that affect the family.

We need your support

With your help, Concern will help more women like Zemu. Working together with our local partners, we will work to be able to speak up for their rights. 

If you’re interested in supporting us this in this work, contact gail.williams@concern.net or phone (01) 417 8020.