Understanding Violence Against Women in Africa

This textbook provides students across Social Sciences, Humanities, Politics, and International Studies with an in-depth understanding of the issues, policies, and strategies for addressing the symptoms and root causes of violence against women (VAW) in sub-Saharan Africa. This text uses the United Nations Security Council’s Resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325) on Women, Peace and Security in Eastern and Southern Africa as a framework to present the causes and impacts of VAW and to trace the journey of sub-Saharan African countries toward gender equality. It also provides an overview of the policy and legislative frameworks that underpin the progress, challenges, and achievements of addressing VAW based on four key pillars: prevention, protection, participation, and relief and recovery. Chapters provide a wealth of knowledge, as the book draws on academic literature; national, regional, and international legislations; and data collected from field research, and makes use of end-of-chapter discussion questions and quick study guides.

Students will come away equipped with the tools, resources, and knowledge necessary to address and fix VAW in sub-Saharan Africa and beyond.

“Since the adoption of UN Resolution 1325, the subject of violence against women has gained traction in the policy arena. Nonetheless, violence against women and girls persists in a brutal and unacceptable manner both in conflict situations and even in societies said to be at peace. This book is well researched and will contribute to a deeper reflection on the issue of violence against women and girls. The issues and questions raised strategically propel the search for action-oriented policies. The book will be a treasure particularly to students and researchers alike with an interest in gender studies, peacebuilding and conflict resolution.”-Wangari Mwai, Professor of Gender Studies, & Director of Training and Capacity Building Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital

 

“This comprehensive volume on violence against women in Africa is a most welcome addition to the literature, and will immenselyenrich the discourse on gender-based violence.  The volume will interest scholars and students in the humanities and social sciences from around the world and serve as an essential and  'must read/consult' reference resource. It is an impressive milestone and important contribution to the literature on violence against women in Africa by African scholars.” -Tom G. Ondicho, Associate Professor of Anthropology, Institute of Anthropology, Gender and African Studies, University of Nairobi, Kenya

 

“This book superbly breaks new ground and boldly presents significant conceptual, theoretical and empirical evidence to understand and prevent violence against women in Africa from an interdisciplinary approach. It brilliantly traces the progress and challenges of implementing UNSCR 1325 in Sub Saharan Africa. A timely and an essential text contributing to the decolonization of knowledge production in Gender Policy and International Studies from African scholars’ lenses.” -Fatuma Ahmed Ali, Associate Professor of International Relations, United States International University-Africa (USIU-A)

Francis Onditi heads the School of International Relations and Diplomacy in Riara University, Kenya and was recently enlisted as a Distinguished Author and Professor of Research at the Institute of Intelligent Systems, University of Johannesburg, South Africa. He is the 2019 recipient of the AISA Fellowship awarded by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), South Africa. He is a widely published pan-African peace researcher with numerous research papers in peer reviewed journals. He has authored/coedited 3 books including Conflictology: Systems, Institutions and Mechanisms in Africa.

Josephine Odera is the immediate former Director of Africa Centre for Transformative & Inclusive Leadership (ACTIL). She formerly served as Regional Director, West and Central Africa, UN Women; Regional Advisor, Leadership & Governance at the United Nations Women Regional Office for East and Southern Africa; and taught at the University of Nairobi's Institute of Diplomacy & International Studies (IDIS). She currently serves as a conflict & mediation expert in various African countries.