Maseru
The Southern Africa region hosted a crucial two-day Strategic Dialogue and Stock-Take Joint Sub-Regional Initiative to address the scourge of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) against women and girls in Maseru this week.
The event brought together resident coordinators, donors and partners from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Zambia to accelerate progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 5.
In her welcoming remarks, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Lesotho, Amanda Khozi Mukwashi, highlighted the alarming prevalence of GBV in the Southern African region which undermines women and girls’ rights to safety, education and economic empowerment.
“GBV remains the most widespread human rights violation across Southern Africa”, she said, emphasising that ending GBV is key to realising SDG 5 and progress on other goals such as health, education and poverty reduction.
Despite progress made, agencies continue to face persistent challenges, including funding gaps, access to justice and weak enforcement of laws and policies.
These barriers hinder collective efforts to create safe and equal societies for women and girls. The dialogue, therefore, aimed to address these challenges and explore sustainable strategies for GBV prevention and response.
On the second day of the event, participants focused on partnerships, financing and charting the way forward for ending GBV across Southern Africa.
A roundtable with donors and partners discussed financing GBV interventions, identifying opportunities for joint action, co-financing and innovative resource mobilisation across the region.
This event was part of regional efforts to accelerate progress towards achieving the SDGs. The spotlight initiative, a global effort to eliminate violence against women and girls, supported this critical dialogue.
The outcome of this dialogue is expected to inform a comprehensive regional strategy to address GBV, strengthen partnerships and mobilise resources to support GBV prevention and response initiatives.
As Mukwashi emphasised, working together creates a Southern Africa where women and girls can live free from violence, fear and discrimination.
The dialogue also brought together diverse stakeholders, including governments, civil society organisations, donors and UN agencies, to deepen collaboration and commitment to ending GBV.
The collective efforts of these partners will be crucial in driving progress towards a GBV-free Southern Africa.
As the region reflects on progress made and challenges remaining, the focus now shifts to implementation and action. The Maseru dialogue has set the stage for a renewed commitment to eliminating GBV and promoting gender equality across Southern Africa.
