Delegates at a Commonwealth Women’s Forum in Kigali on Tuesday, June 21, put emphasis on how engaging men and boys in the campaign on ending violence against women and girls can bear fruit. This was during a panel of discussion in one of the parallel sessions on addressing the barriers to gender equality and women empowerment Bafana Khumalo, co-executive director of Sonke Gender Justice, a South African NGO working on gender issues in Africa, gave an example of a transformative initiative engaging men in ending violence and bringing about gender equality. Khumalo said: “We started a mentoring programme for men who have grown up without fathers and good role models for when they become fathers. “It has significantly reduced the rates of violence in the homes of the men who undertook the programme. And they are more willing to share some domestic duties with their partners.” In some countries, it was noted, the economic costs of violence against women and girls (VAWG) outweigh what they spend on fundamental sectors like education. As such, delegates concurred, focusing on ending violence against women and girls can make real financial sense for a country. As noted, recent data shows that at least one woman in three, experiences some sort of VAWG during their lifetime. Khumalo demonstrated the economic implications of VAWG in addition to its other effects both physical and psychological, resulting in instabilities in families and communities at large. He explained that its effects on the economy include loss of household income, reduction in private consumption, contraction in sectoral output like agriculture, manufacturing services and contraction in income and consumption. All these effects, he noted, result in reduced economic activity at national level. The first day of the forum concluded with an intergenerational celebration recognising the contribution of women and girls of all ages to community development. “Old women also still have dreams and aspirations. They still need to be financially independent, enjoy good health and be given platforms to be heard, feel valued and able to still contribute as much as we can,” noted Prof Randell Shirley Kaye, ambassador of the National Older Women’s Network in Australia. Delegates at the Commonwealth Womens Forum discussed solutions to address pressing challenges affecting women and girls to ensure Commonwealth countries have robust policies and programmes to meet gender equality targets by 2030. Proposed solutions from the two-day forum will later inform Commonwealth leaders’ discussions and decisions on ending gender inequality – ultimately involving women at the highest level of policymaking to address challenges directly affecting them.
