INTERNATIONAL SUMMIT ON ENDING GENDER BASED VIOLENCE 2023 AT THE TORONTO AIRPORT MARRIOTT HOTEL, CANADA
About the Event
Address
The conference commenced with welcoming remarks from Doreen Kajumba, the Executive Director of The Centre for Social Justice Initiatives. Ms. Kajumba expressed her gratitude to all attendees and emphasized the critical nature of the Gender-Based Violence challenges we face. Her remarks set the tone for the discussions that followed.
Mrs. Eyitayo Dada from Canada delivered an enlightening presentation titled “Silent Sufferers: Unveiling Domestic Violence’s Smallest and Most Vulnerable Victims.” Her presentation focused on shedding light on those often overlooked in discussions about domestic violence—the silent sufferers. Mrs. Dada’s insights provided a deeper understanding of the complexities surrounding this issue.
Adding a cultural dimension to the conference,
Adding a cultural dimension to the conference, the Neema Group from Uganda captivated the audience with a live performance, highlighting the power of culture in promoting awareness and unity in our quest to combat Gender-Based Violence.
Dr. Samuel Jacobs-Abbey, a distinguished professor at Morris Brown College, an HBCU based in Atlanta, and Executive Director of Jacobs-Abbey Global Institute for Leadership Studies (Jagils) took the stage to address the audience on the topic of “De-normalizing Behavior that contributes to Gender-Based Violence.” He outlined several social norms that have perpetuated gender-based violence for far too long and challenged participants to stand up for what is right. Dr. Jacobs-Abbey emphasized the importance of speaking out against the social norms that contribute to this pervasive issue.
First Day Of The Conference
The first day of the conference concluded with a mindfulness session led by Mr. Prashant Chawla from Canada, focusing on the survivors and victims of Gender-Based Violence. This session provided an opportunity for attendees to connect with the human element of this struggle, reinforcing our commitment to ending Gender-Based Violence.
While pervasive, gender-based violence is not inevitable. It can and must be prevented. Stopping this violence starts with believing survivors, adopting comprehensive and inclusive approaches that tackle the root causes, transform harmful social norms, and empower women and girls. With survivor-centered essential services across policing, justice, health, and social sectors, and sufficient financing for the women’s rights agenda, we can end gender-based violence.
Unlocking Solutions
How Personality Psychology Holds the Key to Ending Gender-Based Violence
As experts converged at the International Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Summit seeking solutions to end violence against women, one voice stood out by shedding light on a powerful yet overlooked tool: personality psychology.
In an illuminating presentation, Professor Samuel Jacobs-Abbey made an impassioned case for integrating psychological insights into our understanding of perpetrators, victims, and the cultural attitudes driving abuse. As a distinguished scholar and Executive Director of the Jacobs-Abbey Global Institute for Leadership Studies, Prof. Jacobs-Abbey brought academic rigor and deep conviction to his message.
By analyzing individual personalities, Prof. Jacobs-Abbey explained, advocates can identify risk factors early and disrupt cycles of violence through tailored interventions. Understanding societal personality traits that propagate toxic norms allows us to reshape misguided attitudes. In short, personality psychology hands us an information roadmap to strategically address GBV on individual, community and societal levels.
Yet it is an approach often sidelined. Prof. Jacobs-Abbey stressed that we cannot afford to overlook this potent tool if we aim to comprehensively tackle GBV. He called for incorporating psychological assessments into prevention programs, law enforcement trainings, policy decisions and grassroots activism.
Equipped with empirical personality insights, teachers can spot distressed students, judges can recommend effective rehabilitative sentences and health workers can build victim trust – before abuse escalates. On a systemic level, public campaigns and education policies designed with psychology principles in mind have potential to accelerate social progress.
As GBV solutions require nuance, complexity and human understanding, the multilayered lens of personality psychology is pivotal. Participants left the summit with Prof. Jacobs-Abbey’s powerful call to action ringing in their ears: to let these vital insights illuminate our collective path towards ending violence in homes, on streets, across generations. The torch has been passed; it is now our responsibility to use it wisely.
The Power of Advocacy
Dr. Grace Faraja Nkundabantu's Remarkable Impact at the International Gender-Based Violence Summit
The International Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Summit convened global leaders in Toronto to address the urgent crisis of violence against women and girls in East Africa. Amidst renowned experts and policymakers stood one exceptional voice that inspired action: Dr. Grace Faraja Nkundabantu. Through profound insights and passionate advocacy, her transformative presentation catalyzed the audience to drive meaningful progress in eradicating GBV across the region.
As a distinguished scholar and tireless champion for gender equality, Dr. Nkundabantu brought a deep understanding of the historical and sociocultural roots of violence, the human impact of abuse, and the structural changes needed to empower women. She deftly wove together academic research, grassroots narratives, and policy expertise to deliver a multilayered appeal to the audience.
Dr. Nkundabantu compellingly illuminated how gender norms, economic dependence, and lack of education entrap women in cycles of violence across generations. Yet she balanced this sobering portrait with powerful stories of survivors and groundbreaking programs building autonomy and shifting mindsets. Her presentation underscored how collaboration across sectors could replicate and scale such solutions.
Punctuating her insights with cogent data and poignant anecdotes, Dr. Nkundabantu made an irrefutable case for acting now to fundamentally transform the systems oppressing women. She concluded with a galvanizing call to action that brought attendees to their feet, igniting momentum to drive change across institutions.
Through the force of her humanism, intellect, and moral clarity, Dr. Nkundabantu set an indelible example of the power of advocacy at the GBV Summit. Her voice doubtless reverberated through ongoing discussions, spurring attendees to live up to her urgent challenge: to push forward, together, until gender-based violence is eradicated in East Africa and beyond.