Gender-Based violence (GBV) is a universal vise that threatens women and girls, as well as boys and men in all regions of the world. While the scourge of GBV is receiving much more attention internationally – as illustrated by UN Security Council Resolutions 1820, 1888 and 1960 – preventing GBV is a complex challenge.

Against this background, Arigatou International together with NCA and other regional partners has come up with a Regional Advocacy Strategy (RAS) against GBV in Burundi, DRC, Mali, Somalia and South Sudan. The strategy looks at GBV and its effect on children and youth and aims to empower the young people in building their own strategies to prevent, identify and respond to GBV within their respective countries. It is within this framework that we held a four-day seminar termed ACTION! Consultations were held together with twenty-seven youth from the above-mentioned countries to strengthen their advocacy activities against GBV.

As you will see in this newsletter, the need to tackle gender-based violence is urgent and the role of faith communities and youth in addressing it is key to its elimination.

Fred Nyabera, Director, End Child Poverty