GLOBAL SOLUTION NETWORKS

Mobilizing Against Injustice

Global Solution Networks

Combating Violence Against Women and Girls

by Diane Francis

Editor at Large, National Post

Mobilizing  Against  Injus1ce  Global  Solu1on  Networks  Comba1ng  Violence  Against  Women  and  Girls  

GLOBAL SOLUTION NETWORKS

Gratuitous violence, rape, exploitation, negligence and enslavement of females is common in many cultures

Executive Summary

•  New tools, new thinking and new players are needed.

•  The Internet, technology and new digital templates are being harnessed to pressure for change and help victims.

•  Research is needed to determine how to leverage effective solutions.

•  Internal and external pressure, aided by civil society and moral leaders, GSNs or other non-state players, must be recruited to make a difference.

•  Collaboration and innovation between traditional institutions and GSNs can deliver needed reforms.

!  Females ages 15-44 are more likely to be victims of rape and domestic violence than they are to suffer cancer, car accidents, war or malaria.

!  Girls are 3x more likely to be malnourished than boys.

!  Of the world’s 130 million out-of-school youth, 70% are girls.

!  Every year, roughly two million girls between the ages of 5 and 15 are trafficked, sold or coerced into the sex trade.

Mobilizing  Against  Injus1ce  Global  Solu1on  Networks  Comba1ng  Violence  Against  Women  and  Girls  

GLOBAL SOLUTION NETWORKS

The UN’s World Health Organization regards VAWG as a “pandemic” health issue.

The UN has been at the forefront of the fight to combat Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), raising public awareness by building grassroots networks and financing research. Successive Secretaries General, the World Health Organization, UNICEF,

UNESCO and the UN Human Rights Council have provided intelligence, relief and guidance. They gather, stage conferences, enter into partnerships and disseminate anti-VAWG action plans to member states. The UN, its partners and 500 staff provide grassroots assistance in 65 countries.

Role of Traditional International Organizations

Traditional Organizations involved in issues of VAWG

•  UN Women •  UNESCO •  UN Human Rights Council •  UN Committee to Enforce the

Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women

•  World Health Organization •  UNICEF •  Organization of American States •  The World Bank

International Monetary Fund

Mobilizing  Against  Injus1ce  Global  Solu1on  Networks  Comba1ng  Violence  Against  Women  and  Girls  

GLOBAL SOLUTION NETWORKS

The Four Characteristics of Global Solution Networks:

1.  Diverse Stakeholders, beyond one national state

2.  Self-Governing

3.  Exploits Digital Technology

4.  Addresses a Global Problem

21st Century tools to solve 21st Century Problems

There is a fundamental change underway regarding how global problems can be solved and perhaps how we govern ourselves. Emerging non-state networks of civil society, private sector, government and individual stakeholders—what we call

Global Solution Networks—are achieving new forms of cooperation and social change as well as the production of global public value.  A growing numbers of GSNs are currently mobilizing against gender-based violence.

The Role of Global Solution Networks

Mobilizing  Against  Injus1ce  Global  Solu1on  Networks  Comba1ng  Violence  Against  Women  and  Girls  

GLOBAL SOLUTION NETWORKS

Senator Hillary Clinton launched advocacy network Vital Voices in 1997 to advance the involvement of women in Democratic Institutions: •  Publicity, fundraising and

resources to build schools for girls.

•  Mentors for female leaders.

•  Leadership skill training.

•  Emergency medical and financial assistance.

GSNs Addressing Violence Against Women

Mobilizing  Against  Injus1ce  Global  Solu1on  Networks  Comba1ng  Violence  Against  Women  and  Girls  

GLOBAL SOLUTION NETWORKS

Watchdog Networks •  Technology creates

specialized solutions for monitoring.

•  Crowdsourced mapping of danger zones and warnings posted on mobile apps.

•  Customized for cultural variables of acceptable behavior.

GSNs Addressing Violence Against Women

Watchdog  networks  are  as  essen1al  to  bringing  about  reform,  beBer  outcomes  and  improvements  in  aEtudes,  as  is  a  strong,          

independent  media  in  the  developed  world.  They  are  the  eyes  and  ears  of  society,  oIen  represen1ng  the  only  means  of  exposing  wrongdoing  and  demanding  accountability.

Mobilizing  Against  Injus1ce  Global  Solu1on  Networks  Comba1ng  Violence  Against  Women  and  Girls  

GLOBAL SOLUTION NETWORKS

Operational and Delivery Networks: •  International Rescue Committee

(IRC), medical care and legal aid. •  Women for Women International,

microcredit and skills education.

Diaspora Networks: •  Women Living Under Muslim Laws,

networking, alerts, education.

Networked Institutions: •  World Economic Forum, “Girl

Effect” project

Governance Networks: •  Tau Investment Management,

corporate incentives to reduce sweat labor.

GSNs Addressing Violence Against Women

Today, thousands of organizations are involved in helping women, but with varying effectiveness. As of March 2014, the Open Directory Project listed 24,896 sites in its VAWG category. As is often the case, many of these organizations operate in isolation and on shoestring budgets. They struggle

to survive and there is much duplication and fragmentation of effort. Many lack the influence necessary to promote new laws or to intervene for victims. These entities can get inside, and work to create change in nation-states, religions, corporations and cultures that mistreat women, and bring about reforms in policies and laws.

Pressure from civil society, moral leaders and GSNs must be brought to make a difference

Mobilizing  Against  Injus1ce  Global  Solu1on  Networks  Comba1ng  Violence  Against  Women  and  Girls  

GLOBAL SOLUTION NETWORKS

Mobilizing Against Injustice Global Solution Networks

Combating Violence Against Women and Girls

By Diane Francis,

Editor at Large, National Post Read the complete paper at gsnetworks.org  

Global Solution Networks:

Don Tapscott, Executive Director Dr. Joan Bigham, Managing Director Anthony Williams, Executive Director For information on Global Solution Networks projects contact us at info@gsnetworks.org

Review all research results on our web site: gsnetworks.org

Global Solution Networks provide fundamental changes in approaches to gender violence. Resource constraints and limitations of expertise and law enforcement make state solutions ineffective. Focus efforts in areas where state capacity or leadership is weak. GSNs add value to grassroots initiatives. Recognize that communities will form their own GSNs

Technology is a key element in the efforts to shed light on a problem. Promote technological skills and awareness in poor communities.  Find allies in traditional media, the amplification of media attention can be very effective in promoting solutions.

Implications for Network Leaders