Panel Discussion - Strengthening Youth for a Gender Equal World at Breakthrough’s Pan-Asian Virtual
Summit - Reframe
Envisioning a World without GBV
Sky Social hosted a panel discussion called – “Strengthening Youth for a Gender Equal World” at
Breakthrough’s Pan-Asian
Virtual Summit - Reframe Envisioning a World without GBV
Insights on Breakthrough’s Pan-Asian Virtual Summit - Reframe Envisioning a World without
GBV
The Summit had varied themes around Gender-Based Violence including building agency and leadership of
young people for
Preventing GBV, Covid - 19 and re-strategizing prevention of GBV, strengthening adolescents, youth and
communities,
Using the Internet for Social Change and Creating an Enabling Environment and Preventing GBV.
Our session Strengthening Youth for a Gender Equal World had diverse panellists who shared varied
perspectives on Youth
Development. The panel was moderated by Srishti Pragat, founder Sky Social. And the panellists were
Prarthana Mishra,
Director, Sangini Mahila Kalyan Samiti, Arzoo Garg, Project Coordinator, YP Foundation, Supriya Gulati,
Expert – CSR and
communications for development and Lalit Bighane – Youth Ambassador.
The discussion focused on building and strengthening the agency and leadership skills of young people so
that they can
take action and work towards creating a violence-free world. Through this discussion, we shared
strategies, tools,
insights, recommendations and advocacy agenda of what can work in supporting these young people to live
to their full
potential, becoming leaders and role models in their own right. Building their capacities will help them
in creating an
enabling and gender-just environment along with tackling gender-based violence and discrimination.
Key take aways from the Panel Discussion –
Gender-Based Violence and Gender-based Discrimination is a gross violation of human rights. Our Panel
discussion focused
on engaging young people and strengthening their capacities along with improved life-skills so that they
can take up
leadership roles and become agents of change in their community for creation of gender equal and just
world. The
following aspects were talked about in our discussion-
- The challenges faced by the grassroot organizations while working with youth and especially
adolescent girls on gender
issues in the community. For overcoming the challenges, it is necessary to have a multi-sectoral
approach where
government, policy makers, stakeholders, gatekeepers, organizations and communities work together.
It is also necessary
to involve men and boys in discussion about gender-based violence.
-
The critical linkages between SRHR and GBV were discussed with special focus on the need to include
comprehensive
sexuality education for students and youth so that they understand the importance of these subjects
and further take up
initiatives that will create more awareness about these topics in their communities. Also, a very
important aspect was
about moving beyond the gender binary and talking about inclusion of marginalized people from
LGBTQIA+ community.
- To have sustainable youth engagement for creating change in the society it is necessary to focus on
building life
skills of young people. Capacitating them with good communication skills and partnerships will help
them understand
their driving force and reach out to people at larger individually and collectively. These skills
should be incorporated
by organizations and institutions working with youth to expand the outreach of their work and ensure
their development
in a purposeful way.
- Youth representation and involvement is necessary at the policy and institutional level so that
their voices are heard
and they are considered as key stakeholder for effective policy implementation at the grassroots.
- Partnerships and alliances with like-minded organizations and people at community, organizational,
state and national
level will result in sustainable interventions of GBV and GBD.
- Integrate digital literacy and accessibility of youth and women in the programs related to COVID-19
preparedness & GBV
along with forming youth collectives at community level from different vulnerable backgrounds to
bring together varied
voices of change.
