“What do I say of violence against women? - What do I liken it to? ” As a Jurist and Human Development Engineer with more than 30 years of academic and field experience, I have contributed to addressing many and diverse issues of human rights and social justice with greater focus on women’s rights, gender equality and the empowerment of women, youth, and communities. I have significantly contributed to and influenced people, policies and institutions towards harmonious, equitable and value-based relationships. Over these years I have encountered one baffling phenomenon whose pervasiveness and ubiquitous nature eludes my understanding. It resists enormous efforts to prevent and stop it. It persists in families, workplaces, across communities, nations, and generations: It is called VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN! (VAW). Having listened to stories of horrible acts of violence from women of all ages and categories, targeting them just because they are women; having seen it happen, felt it happen, and dedicated a greater part of my professional years trying to understand it and contribute to its eradication, this is my simple summary of what VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN (VAW) could be likened to! VAW is like an octopus with many ugly tentacles, yet many new ones emerging from unexpected parts of the body at any uncomfortable social turn, difficulty, or confrontation. VAW is like the chameleon, changing color and faces with changing circumstances. It takes the color or face of whatever it hides behind, be it culture, religion, politics, policy, institutional systems, economic hardship, pandemics, crisis, conflict, disaster, patriarchy, you name it. VAW, above all, is like a snake gliding under every aspect of women’s lives, always forcing through its ugly head to scare, spank, hurt, and kill. It kills potential, self-esteem, self-confidence, and ambitions! At its worst, it takes women’s lives! VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN continues to eat into and bleed the lives of individuals, families, communities, economies, and whole societies. Its many and unpredictable shapes, forms, and acts invite us to be creative, innovative, holistic, persistent, determined, intentional and resilient in our efforts to eliminate it. We must dig it up and crush its deep, multi, and widespread roots. We must monitor it and raise an ALARM whenever and wherever it shows up. We must invest more energy and resources to fight it. We must work as a strong coordinated team. It will take collective responsibility and responsiveness to crush it. We must bring men, boys and whole communities on board as key partners and stakeholders. Above all, we must be INTENTIONAL! It will take individual and collective resentment, determination, resolution, commitment, transformation and action to end VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN! These commitments and actions must be backed by strong and convinced leadership within families, communities and national institutions. They must be backed by a clear vision, strong principles, policies, and coordinated action. Ending VAW requires each person to make a vow: Never violate a woman. Never to stand by and watch any women violated, Never to tolerate violence against any women, To prevent violence before it occurs, To take immediate action to stop any act of VAW, To provide care, services and support to victims and survivors! It is my hope and conviction that these collective voices would translate into a collective conscience for Peace, Equity, Justice, and Prosperity for all women and men, girls and boys. VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN is futile. It is never beneficial—not even to the perpetrator. It must be crushed for the aspirations of equality, peace and sustainable development to be realized! NB: These are reflections over a professional life-time dedicated to contributing to eliminate Violence Against Women, amongst other social justice struggles. It originated from a morning meditation and reflection on the persistence of VAW. I looked at my past work from being Director for Women’s Rights in the Ministry in Charge of Women’s Rights and Gender Equality and Heading the UNiTE Campaign to eVAW in Africa. I truly wondered what to liken VAW to and came up with the 3 similes. I continued adding to it as I led several UN Women Country offices with EVAW always amongst the critical pillars. It has also benefited from interactions with colleagues and other experts, participation in seminars and workshops, and often to brainstorm on how to EVAW! The initial draft was jotted in Nairobi-2015; Improved in Khartoum-2015/16; Strengthened in Istanbul- 2016 and in Bujumbura-2020-22; Finalized, cleaned, and shared in Kigali-24th Nov 2023. Jennet Kem is a seasoned human rights, gender equality, and social justice convicted and passionate leader, currently serving as UN Women Country Representative in Rwanda.
