Editorial.

• Author: Kagoiya, Rachel
• Position: Editorial

Gender-based violence (GBV) is violence that is directed at an individual based on her or his specific gender role in society. It can affect females or males; however gender-based violence affects women and girls disproportionately. GBV is deeply rooted in power imbalances and structural relationships of inequality between women and men and is therefore intended to establish or reinforce gender hierarchies and perpetuate gender inequalities.

Undoubtedly, substantial progress has been made in the last two decades to raise awareness of gender-based violence as a grave human rights violation. However, our world today is still not safer for millions of women and girls. During the 52nd Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), the Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon noted in his opening address that "at least one out of every three women is likely to be beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused in her lifetime". As a global phenomenon, GBV occurs in every continent, country and culture, causing severe damages to families and communities. Calling it an issue that "cannot wait", the Secretary-General launched a global campaign bringing together the United Nations, governments and civil society to bring an end to violence against women. The Campaign which runs until 2015, aims to mobilize public opinion to ensure that policy makers at the highest level work to prevent and eradicate GBV, thus ensuring that women and girls live free of violence, today and in the future. The Campaign will seek to secure political will and increased resources from governments, international institutions, United Nations entities, the private sector and other donors for policies and programmes to tackle the problem.

Thus a variety of strategies and promising approaches are needed to intensify the struggle for a world free of violence against women and girls. In this issue of FEMNET News, we bring you a collection of articles highlighting some emerging strategies being used by FEMNET's Men for Gender Equality Now (MEGEN) programme in advocating for an end to GBV. You will also read about MEGEN's intervention in the political crisis in Kenya as narrated by Asa Eriksson, who recently joined FEMNET as a Bilateral Associate Expert. From Zambia, Nelson Banda shares in this issue the experience of the Men's Network Project in Zambia in promoting gender equality.

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