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#PreventVAW #FeministAgenda

@Lusukalanga is a Malawian feminist leading a violence response and prevention program. She's also the host of Feministing While Malawian podcast. #PreventVAW #FeministAgenda

@Wwangechi_leah is ED of @CREAWKenya and is here to share what she's learned from her work in violence prevention #PreventVAW #FeministAgenda

@KobugabeLucky is hosting the chat on behalf of the GBV Prevention Network #PreventVAW #FeministAgenda

African Feminists have made significant strides for women to be able to live in safety on the continent. Violence prevention means figuring out how to target vulnerable groups such that they don't experience violence - @Wwangechi_leah #PreventVAW #FeministAgenda

African feminists are challenging gender norms that normalize violence, we are looking at power imbalances that perpetuates violence and we are engaging women, men, children and communities in violence prevention.
@Wwangechi_leah #PreventVAW #FeministAgenda

Historically and in contemporary times, women's movements and African feminist women are on the forefront leading violence prevention and are making it known that it's possible to prevent violence against women on the continent. - @Lusukalanga #PreventVAW #FeministAgenda

African feminists are also introducing intersectionality in violence prevention work such that other marginalized groups like lesbian, bisexual, and trans women are included in efforts to respond to and prevent violence. @Lusukalanga #PreventVAW #FeministAgenda

Evidence continues to show us that the work of preventing and ending VAW has to be led by African women and feminists who know best how to engage the communities and centre women and girls in the work to prevent violence. @Lusukalanga #PreventVAW #FeministAgenda

African feminists have done a lot of weightlifting to push for legislation to protect the rights of women and girls. Organizations must recognize intersectionality in violence prevention. E.g disabled women are more vulnerable to experience violence. @Wwangechi_leah

@Wwangechi_leah One of the things that I've seen to be powerful is engaging men and boys. Evidence shows that the predominant perpetrators of VAW are men. Have community dialogues with men and boys on the need for why violence prevention is important. @Wwangechi_leah
#PreventVAW #FeministAgenda

The focus on VAW prevention over the years have been on structures i.e legal protection of women but we've seen some challenges with the actual implementation of these laws. @Lusukalanga
#PreventVAW #FeministAgenda

There's some important work engaging with regards to social norms e.g #SASA approach where we engage communities on the unequal power dynamics between women and men, and showing how it contributes to violence against women. @Lusukalanga
#PreventVAW #FeministAgenda

As a society, we need to reach a point where violence is unacceptable while removing the stigma against victims/survivors of VAW. @Lusukalanga
#PreventVAW #FeministAgenda

When we engage men and boys in violence prevention, it must be from a point that centers women. It must be from a place of accountability and responsibility whereby we're not absolving individual men but understanding how men systematically benefit from patriarchy @Lusukalanga

Men should not expect to be awarded for contributing to violence prevention efforts. If they are going to support the work as allies, they need to do it under the leadership and guidance of African feminists and women doing violence prevention work. @Lusukalanga #PreventVAW

Violence Prevention means we're stopping violence from the onset. It means a world where we have equal power between women and men. We need to experience generation equality in our time.
@Wwangechi_leah
#PreventVAW #FeministAgenda

We have come to the end of our chat. Thanks to everyone for joining us. If you would like to learn more about the #SASA approach, please visit our website for more information and resources.
#PreventVAW #FeministAgenda
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