UK (Commonwealth Union)_ In a significant gathering in London, visionary women leaders from across the Commonwealth convened to pledge their commitment to eradicating domestic and sexual violence against women and girls. This collaborative effort involves leaders from diverse professions working together to implement actions that safeguard women and girls, even in hard-to-reach areas across the 56 Commonwealth countries. The initiative aligns with the gender equality mandates set forth in the 2023 Commonwealth Women’s Affairs Ministers Meeting and the 2022 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
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Convened by Commonwealth Secretary-General The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, the event witnessed the presence of Her Majesty The Queen and over a hundred representatives from government, business, academia, and civil society. Secretary-General Scotland urged women leaders to unite in combating the pervasive issue of domestic and sexual violence, labeling it a silent pandemic that demands urgent action. The Secretary-General emphasized that, despite being told that ending such violence is impossible, the collective commitment of women leaders can make a difference. She expressed the goal of creating a world where no woman fears the footsteps behind her and no child cowers in the shadows of abuse.
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Secretary-General said, “The widespread prevalence of domestic and sexual abuse, which affects one in three women in their lifetimes, and the pernicious impact on survivors, families, communities, and economies are a constant reminder that action is urgently required. For far too long and far too often, we are told it is impossible to end this… But, today, we reject that notion and say NO MORE because together, we can.” The Secretary-General added, “We have invited you to examine what we can do together and establish a new commitment. So that we may finally deliver a world in which no woman fears the footsteps behind her and where no child cowers in the shadows of abuse.”
Panel discussions during the event focused on three core areas: the role of advocacy, the impact of domestic violence on the mental health of women and children, and support for survivors and their families. Commonwealth first ladies Fatima Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow of The Gambia, and Maryam Mwinyi of Zanzibar shared shocking statistics highlighting the plight of millions of abused women and girls in their homes.
Emphasizing the power of advocacy, the First Lady of Sierra Leone discussed her ‘Hands Off Our Girls’ campaign, which resulted in increased minimum sentencing for rape in Sierra Leone from four months to 15 years. Speakers proposed specific measures, including early childhood education to dismantle harmful cultural norms, one-stop centers for comprehensive support, campaigns engaging men, and legislation to ensure equality under the law.
Maya Kirti Nanan, the 2023 Commonwealth Young Person of the Year, raised the subject of increased vulnerability of people with disabilities to violence and called on governments to address their special safeguarding needs. Umutoni Gatsinzi Nadine from Rwanda’s Gender Monitoring Office shared successful interventions, leading to a substantial increase in the conviction rate for violence against women and girls in Rwanda. Further, Her Majesty The Queen received a report on the event’s outcomes, and the Secretary-General closed the event by thanking The Queen for her support and encouraging the participants to commit to at least one action to enhance the well-being of women and girls.
Other speakers included Amina Mohammed, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General; Saima Wazed, Chairperson of Shuchona Foundation and Advisor to the World Health Organization (WHO) on Mental Health and Autism; Jane Randel, Chair of the NO MORE Foundation; Jude Kelly CBE, Founder and Chair, WOW Foundation; Sarah Brown, Chair of Theirworld charity and Executive Chair of Global Business Coalition for Education; and representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO) and global health organization PATH. Jane Randel introduced the Commonwealth Says NO MORE campaign, offering tools to combat domestic and sexual violence at various levels, with video messages showcasing successful interventions from Cameroon and Cyprus. The event’s recommendations will guide the ongoing work of the Commonwealth Says NO MORE campaign.
