Be Crisis Ready

I was taught that I cannot prevent disasters from happening. I was taught that I cannot change any circumstances that threatens or puts me at risk because what will happen will happen. Most of us have grown up to believe this narrative. However, some recent events have completely changed that for me.

Naturally, one would assume that women who stand up, rise up to take the mantle of leadership and responsibility that will bring change in their society and communities would be loved, appreciated and respected. Unfortunately, that is not often the case as women leaders are the most at risk individuals in the communities they serve.

While I was campaigning for elective office in 2023, a woman leader of the Labor Party was shot to death in her home. She is just one of many, some whose stories will never be told. As is the situation with women in general, women leaders are extremely vulnerable to persecution and violence due to a complex interplay of reasons.

Even though political violence knows no gender, it is however more for women leaders because:

      I.         Gender bias and stereotypes makes women more vulnerable to discriminatory attitudes and biaseswhich often lead to violence and aggression.

     II.         Power dynamics places women in leadership positions to be perceived as threats to traditional power structures, leading to attempts to silence or intimidate them.

   III.         Patriarchal culture makes societies to resist women's leadership thus perpetuate violence against them.

   IV.         Political and ideological differences makes women leaders to face violence and attacks from opposing political or ideological groups.

    V.         Personal and professional challenges places women leaders under extreme scrutiny and pressure, making them more vulnerable to stress, burnout, and violence.

   VI.         Historical and systemic inequalities ensure women are historically marginalized and excluded from power, leading to ongoing disparities and vulnerabilities.

 VII.         Lack of support and protection: Women leaders may not receive adequate protection or support from authorities, colleagues, or communities.

VIII.         Cyber violence is one of the most potent weapons of attack on women and women leaders are amongst the most harassed leading some deciding to end their leadership or political careers altogether, or keep off the internet.

These factors intersect and compound, making women leaders the most vulnerable to violent  attacks and often persecution.  Addressing these underlying issues is crucial to creating a safer and more inclusive environment for women leaders to thrive.

Hence Vital Voices Global Partnerships came to the rescue through the creation of the Crisis Response Team, which will work with women leaders to provide the partnership and assistance they need to remain safe, sustain their work and livelihoods, and retain their power as critical agents of change.  The program is designed to provide women leaders with the technical skills and tools to mitigate risks, and implement a plan to protect themselves, their organizations and communities.

The participants who formed the first cohort of the program are professional women from various fields and different parts of the world united by a shared commitment to addressing crises and promoting resilience in their respective endeavours.

The hybrid training covered different aspect of readiness which includes how to identify risks, managing risks and creating a safety plan, mental wellbeing and resilience, digital safety, and how to put together the arrest and legal resources needed in terms of emergency.  The climax of the training in Nairobi Kenya led by Vital Voices head of Crisis Readiness Allan Freedman, Giulianna Sutkiewicz, Abby Straessle and Dianelly Zamorano was an enriching, engaging and participatory process of immersive learning sessions with shared invaluable insights and best practices, fostering a rich environment for knowledge sharing and collaboration.

Beyond the classroom, the fellowship offered a unique opportunity for networking and connection-building amongst the participants  who came from different regions and backgrounds forging lasting bonds and a supportive community of women leaders for greater impact.        

 The crisis readiness and response program not only equipped US the participants with the necessary enhanced skills and knowledge but also reignited our passion for creating positive change. And as we all journeyed back to  respective contexts, we have carried with us a renewed sense of purpose derived from the strength and assurance of a network of like-minded individuals.

 This Vital Voices Global Partnerships'  Crisis Response fellowship exemplified the power of collective learning and solidarity, empowering a new generation of crisis responders and change-makers to create a more resilient and compassionate world.

As a woman leader, I now know that even if I may not be able to stop or prevent crisis from happening, I can detect it, mitigate it, manage it or control it.

Thank you Vital Voices for the gift of knowledge.