The Fight Against Gender-Based Violence and the Path to Inclusive Policies - An Interview with Lynda Banja
Welcome to another episode of the Anything Gender podcast! I'm your host, Charmin Prince, and today we have a very special guest with us - Lynda Banja. Lynda is a distinguished lawyer, social entrepreneur, global mentor, and facilitator who is deeply passionate about gender and inclusion, business and human rights, and gender and international development. With over 13 years of legal expertise spanning a diverse array of economic sectors, Lynda brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table. In this interview, we dive into Lynda's work in advocating for sexual and reproductive health and rights, her role in various leadership positions, and her insights on combating gender-based violence (GBV) through regional and international instruments. Let's get started! Lynda's Background and Passion for Gender and Inclusion Lynda's impressive credentials include a Bachelor's of Law with honors from Moy University, a postgraduate diploma in law from Kenya School of Law, and membership in the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. She is also an accredited mediator through Strathmore Law School and is currently pursuing a Master's of Law at the University of Nairobi. Beyond her legal practice, Lynda is deeply involved in advocacy and leadership roles. She serves as the vice chair for the Business of Human Rights Committee at the East Africa Law Society, is actively engaged with the Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya (FIDA), and is a contributing committee member of the Every Woman's Treaty Global Coalition working group. When asked about what drives her passion for gender and inclusion, Lynda shared a poignant story about a ten-year-old girl who had been raped and became pregnant. This experience, along with others, compelled Lynda to become a change agent within the sexual reproductive health segment. "There's still something I can do. There's something I can. Being somebody who's gone to school and who's got into different spaces where people do express themselves, there's a difference I can be able to make." - Lynda Banja Strategies for Engaging Communities in the Fight Against GBV Kenya has 43 different communities, each with their own cultural norms, stereotypes, and biases. Lynda emphasizes the importance of partnership and intentional collaboration when engaging these communities to provide support, interventions, and education on GBV. Some strategies include: Creating clear communication lines and partnerships between stakeholders Amplifying violations and discussing approaches to address them Utilizing media, both mainstream and social, to voice issues and advise people on their roles as stakeholders Lynda also highlights the role of male allyship in combating GBV, noting that while it can be challenging due to patriarchal structures, engaging men as equal partners is crucial. The Impact of International Conventions on GBV in Kenya International conventions, such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), have played a significant role in shaping the legal and societal framework for dealing with GBV in Kenya. Lynda explains that these instruments provide a uniform way of addressing issues, safeguarding rights, and ensuring that wherever a person is, they are protected. However, she also acknowledges the challenges posed by varying cultural values and beliefs, such as in the case of abortion rights. "Regardless of whatever the sense it is scenario is, that person is a human being, that woman, that girl is a human being and has to be respected. Their rights have to be respected, their right of choice, the right of life, their sexuality has to be respected." - Lynda Banja Leveraging Regional and International Instruments for Change As a member of global coalitions like Every Woman's Treaty, Lynda engages with international platforms to influence GBV gender policy. She emphasizes the importance of partnerships, training, and the use of media channels to voice issues and advise people on their roles as stakeholders. Civil society advocacy groups and grassroots organizations can best leverage regional and international instruments by: Understanding the contents of the instruments and how they relate to their specific contexts Forging thematic partnerships within the GBV space Utilizing media partnerships and communication tools Holding meetings, webinars, and online conferences to mobilize and develop new initiatives Lynda also recommends the Every Woman's Treaty optional protocol to CEDAW as a universal instrument that NGOs can use to expand GBV awareness and collaborate, as it embraces new technological changes and forms of GBV. A Call to Action In closing, Lynda leaves us with a powerful message: "Let's be more intentional about forging partnerships, relationships within the gender based violence space. Because that's the only way we are able to curtail the numbers from rising, the instances from spreading, the forms from regenerating." - Lynda Banja She calls on parents to be there for their children, to be their best friends and advisors, as this is crucial in safeguarding them from GBV. Lynda also urges the creation of more spaces for young girls and women to talk and open up about their experiences, as listening to people can lead to different approaches and mechanisms for addressing issues. Finally, Lynda reminds us that the voice of change comes from each and every one of us. Let us all work together to create a world free from gender-based violence and promote inclusive policies that protect and empower women and girls everywhere.
This blog post is based on an interview with Lynda Banja featured on the ENYTinG Gender podcast. To learn more about Lynda's work and the fight against gender-based violence, be sure to listen to the full episode.