Ambassador Malac’s remarks at the 16 Days of Activism Public Dialogue, Makerere University
Ambassador Malac kicked off #16days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) at a public dialogue at Makerere University. In partnership with the Center for Domestic Violence Prevention (CEDOVIP), the 83rd Guild Council, and the School of Women and Gender Studies.
Thank you for having me here today. I’d like to thank Makerere University and the Center for Domestic Violence Prevention for hosting this important community dialogue. I’d also like to thank you, the students, for taking the time to be here today to discuss the important issue of gender-based violence.
This dialogue is timely because tomorrow kicks off the United Nations-led global campaign of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. The unfortunate reality is that gender-based violence is pervasive, affecting women and girls from all walks of life, all over the world, each and every day. Read more.
Understanding gender-based violence
Gender-based violence (GBV) can harm men or women, but women are most often victims. “[It] cannot exist without a culture that favors my gender, my race, heterosexuals, etc.,” Atherton-Zeman said. “If we work to end the pressure to ‘be a man’ or ‘act like a lady’ in certain rigid ways,” he said, “then we will see a day when gender-based violence is a thing of the past.” He notes that younger people increasingly reject the male and female stereotypes that can underpin gender-based violence. Read more.
