Reclaiming community strengths to address violence against women

In many African societies, there are long-standing values that emphasise respect for human dignity, care for one another, and the importance of living together in harmony. These values can offer a strong foundation for preventing violence against women. At the same time, it is important to recognise that cultural traditions are not uniform, and they are not always interpreted the same way. Some practices and beliefs have protected women and promoted shared responsibility, while others have contributed to silence, unequal power, or acceptance of harm.

Similarly, African feminist thought, both historical and contemporary, has offered ways to understand and challenge gendered power relations. However, not everyone describes their beliefs or actions in feminist terms, and some communities may be cautious about unfamiliar terms. The goal should not be to replace one worldview with another, but to draw on the strengths of many perspectives, traditional, religious, feminist, and legal, to support safety and justice.

In many communities, people already negotiate between customary practices and formal legal systems when solving disputes. This shows it is possible to build cooperation between local community processes and national laws. However, it requires dialogue, trust, and a willingness to address power imbalances, especially where women, girls, and marginalised groups may have less influence in community decision-making.

Efforts to end violence against women also need to recognise that communities are not always in agreement about change. Some leaders are ready to support reform, while others may feel that the current norms protect social order or their own authority. For this reason, sustained engagement, careful listening, and inclusive conversations are needed. Women and survivors must be able to speak for themselves and help define what safety and justice look like, rather than simply have solutions imposed on them.

Part of sustaining this work includes documenting experiences, sharing stories, and keeping the conversation active. When stories remain unspoken, violence stays hidden, and survivors remain isolated. Storytelling, whether through community dialogues, radio discussions, digital platforms, or oral traditions, helps people recognise patterns, understand the emotional and social impact of violence, and see that change is possible. Documentation also ensures that progress, challenges, and lessons learnt are not lost but can guide future generations and inform policy, advocacy, and accountability efforts.

By acknowledging both the strengths and challenges within cultural, religious, feminist, and legal traditions, communities can work toward responses that protect survivors, hold perpetrators accountable, and maintain social connections. The goal is not to preserve or reject any single system, but to ensure that every approach centres dignity and the right of women to live free from harm, and to continue telling the stories that keep this commitment alive.