17th IACC

The session will examine how the effects of corruption weigh heaviest and most devastatingly on the vulnerable. While it may have a glancing impact for the rest of the population, for the vulnerable – who are largely women and children, it is a deadly blow.

This will be accomplished by reviewing situations in 3 different jurisdictions involving gender-based violence and the link with corruption; highlighting similarities and differences therein. It will examine how this has been achieved by mobilizing people across various interests into the pursuit of a course of action thereby putting an end to impunity and bringing about change. It will also proffer strategies for better engagement.

The session will highlight the fact that regardless of differences in jurisdiction, certain strategies are effective. These include but are not limited to mobilization of a critical mass, empowerment of the vulnerable through several options, use of social media, attracting international attention, etc.

Discussions in the course of the session will highlight the process of empowering and enabling the citizenry – particularly women and gender champions to demand change. The session which will be very practical in content and outlook, will seek to explore strategies for ensuring consistency and the sustainability of the response.

The session will draw from practical examples of activities of CSOs, NGOs, etc to showcase effective strategies for mobilising, largely under-privileged, women (to demand accountability and engender policies that will benefit not only themselves, but society as a whole. The session will review public response to acts of corruption and impunity in the jurisdictions identified, mobilization strategies adopted that not only caused an outpouring by a critical mass, but also drew international attention to the situation and created a situation in which governments were obliged to respond.