It was incredibly inspiring to hear about the powerful and impactful discussions that took place during the Women's Federation for World Peace UK webinar; to mark the UN Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls. The diverse perspectives and insights shared by Mathew Huish, Hina Junejo, Sera Mustafa, and Mandy Sanghera highlighted the multifaceted nature of leveraging social media for positive change and advocating against violence targeting women and marginalized groups in society.
The event kick started with Asma Ahmed, the co-director of the Young Women's Speech Contest UK, who moderated the program and preceded by welcoming everyone and guiding the webinar, setting the stage for a meaningful dialogue on the importance of changing the narrative on the evening's topic - How Social Media Can Break The Cycle Of Violence Against Women and Girls.
Matthew Huish opened the webinar with his inspiring speech and contributed towards the topic from a male perspective. His acknowledgement of the harm inflicted on women by men as 'deplorable', he also made emphasis on the role of men in supporting women and fulfilling their responsibilities is a significant step toward promoting gender equality and engaging in a culture of mutual respect and understanding. Matthew is an educator, teaching in a school for children in care as well as privately tutoring students in English, Maths and Science. He has BSc in Biochemistry and an MA in Pastoral Theology. His greatest title, however, is being a parent to their eight children with wife Natasha.
Hina Junejo's emphasis on the potential of social media as a platform for raising awareness of domestic violence and encouragement to women to use their voices to effect change, resonated deeply. Drawing from personal experiences, Hina added authenticity and emotional resonance to her message, making it even more compelling. She reinforced that it is essential to empower women to speak out and break the silence surrounding violence against women. In addition to being an Ambassador for Peace for WFWP UK, Hina is also a TV broadcaster, an award winning documentary director and actor. She is a couples therapist in pursuit of creating healthier relationships and curtailing domestic violence.
Sera Mustafa acknowledged the dual nature of the digital world, identifying both its potential for good and its capacity to perpetuate harm, which is an important reminder to be safe. Her call for critical thinking, particularly among young people, underscored the importance of media literacy and the ability to discern and resist harmful trends. This is especially vital in today's digital landscape. Sera is an actor and a graduate from LAMBDA, and also spent 5 years as the Head of Campaigns & Partnerships for Non Profit Project Period. She is the winner of the 2020 Young Women's Speech Contest, WFWP UK.
Mandy Sanghera focused on her inspirational campaign, her journey and unwavering commitment to standing up for the rights of women. She shed light on critical issues such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), Breast Ironing, Forced Marriages, Child Marriages, and the mistreatment of individuals with mental/physical disabilities. Her fearlessness in addressing these sensitive and often overlooked topics, emphasised the need to challenge and change harmful cultural practices rather than being complicit as bystanders. Mandy is an award winning philanthropist, and global campaigner often referred to as a 'global catalyst'. As well as being an international human rights activist & motivational Tedx speaker from the UK.
Asma then moved to the second segment of the programme, the Q&A session. The audience engaged with a plethora of questions and discussions with the guest speakers, raising poignant issues and expressing a strong desire for positive change. This highlights the urgency and significance of the issues discussed in relation to violence against women and girls and how social media can affect these inequalities yet also bring about change for the better. The exchange of ideas and the collective passion for driving change are indeed, critical in nurturing a culture of awareness and collective action.
Asma Ahmed closed the event with huge appreciation and thanks to the speakers and participants for their informative and productive contributions. In this, recognising and appreciating the diverse perspectives and insights shared during the event not only reinforces the importance of coming together to address complex social issues, but also sees a collective, cohesive and inclusive nature to drive change.
The use of hashtags such as #tech4good and #WFWP demonstrates a commitment to leveraging technology and social media for positive impact, aligning with the overarching goal of using these platforms to drive meaningful outcomes and societal change.