A REPORT ON GENDER BUDGETING ORGANIZED BY WOMEN’S INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE FOR PEACE AND FREEDOM AT NEW HEAVENS HOTEL ABAKALIKI

OBJECTIVES

  • Gender Budgeting – Capital
  • Strategy for engaging men and boys
  • Strategy for engaging Religious Leaders, Traditional Leaders and Policymakers
  • Public Speaking and Communication

SPEAKERS

  • Bukky Shonibare
  • Dorathy Njamenze

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Gender budgeting is not a separate budget but the same budget viewed from the gender lens. There are three keys to consider before Gender Budgeting:

  1. Budget knowledge
  2. Issue/ Sector-specific knowledge
  3. Gender knowledge

Three major importance of Gender Budgeting is:

  • Accountability
  • Participation
  • Equality

Gender Budgeting Stakeholders includes:

  1. Federal Government (Executives)
  2. Lawmakers
  3. Civil Society Organizations and Citizens
  4. International Actors

Engaging Men and Boys: We cannot achieve gender equality without engaging men and boys. Increasingly, men are working alongside women to end violence against women and girls. Men often wield power over many aspects of women’s lives – as Heads of State and Government Ministries, Leaders of Religious and faith-based institutions, Judges, Heads of Militias, etc.

BRAINSTORMING

Religious, Traditional, and Community Leaders are key influencers in society. These leaders are often shapers, custodians, and enforcers of traditions, norms and beliefs. Through the buy-in and support of these leaders, the governments and CSOs can access, engage and involve men and boys in ending GBV. Being strong influencers in society these leaders have a response and support mechanisms for GBV survivors and victims. They can help convene and facilitate sensitization and dialogues necessary for raising awareness and sensitize their members and followers on GBV. Also, advocate or support advocacy for enactment and enforcement of laws to end GBV.

HOW TO ENGAGE THESE KEY LEADERS

  • Sensitization – Men’s summit
  • Advocacy to the leaders
  • Involving the leaders through their clubs, age-grade meetings, and youth programs to educate them on GBV and engage them in dialogue.

CONCLUSION

We need public speaking skills in carrying out advocacy and sensitization, hence the need for CSOs to be well skilled in public speaking. This will enable us to amplify the voices of victims of Gender-Based Violence and provide an opportunity to effectively influence laws, policies, and decision making.

Photos from the Event

Parakletos African Girls Foundation