Thematic Programme on Reduction of GBV in Conflict and Post-Conflict Situations, Focusing on Child and Youth Participation
Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) and Arigatou International—Nairobi

DRAFT REPORT

Orientation and Advocacy workshop on Preventing and Eliminating Gender Based Violence and the Negative Impacts on Children in Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan and Somalia
&
Celebrating the Day of the African Child

Dates: 14th to 17th June 2016
Venue: AACC, Nairobi, Kenya

Acronyms
AACC All African Conference of Churches
AU African Union
DAC Day of the African Child
DPAC Day of Prayer and Action for Children
DRC Democratic Republic of Congo
ECP End Child Poverty
GNRC Global Network of Religions for Children
IDEP International Day of Eliminating Poverty
SSCC South Sudan Council of Churches

Organisations represented 1. End Child Poverty- Arigatou International – Nairobi 2. Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC) 3. National Islamic Council of DRC 4. South Sudan Council of Churches (SSCC) 5. Refuge Point 6. International Movement of Catholic Students- Burundi (IMCS Pax Romana Africa) 7. Women of Faith Network Burundi

ORGANISATION PROFILE - END CHILD POVERTY
End Child Poverty is a multi-faith, child centered, global initiative of Arigatou International that mobilises faith-inspired resources to end child poverty by addressing both the structural cause of poverty and the root causes of poverty in the human heart. In our child-centered work and service we seek to integrate positive religious values; we promote faith-inspired initiatives; and we cooperate with like-minded organizations to work together for a world free of child poverty. The initiative was launched at the Fourth Forum of the Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC) in 2012, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Our Vision- A World Free of Child Poverty
We envision a World Free of Child Poverty. Every day, together with many others, we aim for and work hard to make this hope a reality.
Our Mission – Mobilizing Faith Inspired Resources to End Child Poverty
Religious communities and faith-inspired organisations have unique resources, including their spiritual values, their social capital and their moral assets. We maximize on these comparative strengths to end child poverty.
Our Guiding Principles; We are guided by these simple and powerful principles: * Child/Youth centered Initiatives * Integration of positive religious values in our work * Promotion of faith-inspired initiatives * Cooperation with like-minded stakeholders

What We Do 1. Awareness Creation: Raising the consciousness of our communities on the plight of child poverty. 2. Addressing the root causes of poverty in the human heart: Engaging in theological reflection, prayer and action to mitigate the root causes of poverty in human heart including greed, hatred, fear and ignorance, as necessary steps towards a lasting solution to the child poverty problem. 3. Addressing Structural Causes of Poverty: Engage in interfaith advocacy and lobbying against structural causes of poverty such as the unequal distribution of resources, corruption, bad governance and violent conflicts, by; * Developing faith-based advocacy tools geared towards eradication of child poverty. * Facilitating the creation of platforms to communicate and advocate for sustainable and holistic child poverty eradication. 4. Flagship Grass Root Initiatives: Accompanying selected sustainable and replicable grass root flagship projects by the GNRC members and other FBOs that aim to: * Enhance quality education and retention of poor and vulnerable children in school; * Transform violent conflicts that exacerbate poverty; and * Promote income generating activities for low income care givers and families.

5. Partnerships: Forge concrete partnerships, both intra-faith and multi-religious, and with other sectors of society, at all levels-global, continental, national and local to advocate for concrete measures that will address child poverty.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Over the past years, the nature of the conflict in South Sudan, Eastern Congo and Burundi has come to the world’s attention. In addition to the very high levels of violence, looting and killings of civilians, the wide spread use of sexual violence and torture as a near risk free and effective intimidation and control tool has become well known.

Driving the epidemic of GBV against women and men are a number of factors. Underlying factors are traditional and deeply-held beliefs and value systems in regards to the devaluation of women and girls leading to highly unequal gender. In addition are factors such as a culture of impunity, the nature of the conflict itself with an extremely difficult geographical and logistical context. This have prevented the respective governments, international and national actors from providing security and protection for civilians, particularly for the thousands upon thousands of women and girls who have been raped and experiences other forms of sexual torture throughout war. Some reports have estimated that almost 50% of GBV survivors in the DRC are girls under the age of 18. Although women represent the overwhelming number of affected by GBV, men and boys are also deeply affected. There is a growing acknowledgement that men and boys are also sexually violated and tortured by all the different sides in the conflict, to humiliate, pacify, disempower and shame to the largest extent. The widespread use of GBV as a weapon of war is beginning to demonstrate a “spill over” effect into the civilian population, as the percentage of rapes and violations done by civilians increase. Returned child soldiers and other combats including other disempowered youths and men, are part of a growing culture of violence where the atrocities continuously find new and horrifying methods

Gender Based Violence is an umbrella term for any harmful act that is perpetrated against a person’s will, and that is based on socially ascribed (gender) differences between males and females. While GBV can take many forms in an emergency context, during the early stages – when communities are first disrupted, populations are moving and protection systems are not fully in place – most reported GBV incidents are sexual violence involving female survivors and male perpetrators. While men and boys can be victims of some types of GBV (particularly sexual violence), around the world, GBV has a greater impact on women and girls than on men and boys. The term “gender-based violence” is often used interchangeably with the term “violence against women.” The term highlights the gender dimension of these types of acts; in other words, the relationship between females’ subordinate status in society and their increased vulnerability to violence.

Relationship of GBV to child poverty
An analysis of the global persistence and even escalation of violence in all areas of life, including homes, communities, institutions, and armed conflicts, reveals that the vast majority of people damaged by the decisions made and the actions carried out by those in power (largely men) are children (and women).

Most alarmingly, however, is that over half the world’s refugees are children

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Project Goal:
Orientation and laying advocacy strategy towards preventing and eliminating GBV for the wellbeing of all children in the target countries Target group 8 Key Multi- Faith stakeholders in the GBV processes at the different Country levels from DRC Congo, Burundi, South Sudan and Somalia (2 per country) will be joined by project management staff of End Child Poverty Initiative of Arigatou International.
Strategic Programme Objectives: 1. To provide space for an in depth analysis of the GBV situation in the mentioned countries and its impact on child poverty in the region 2. Marking the Day of the African Child on the 16th 3. Orienting the participants to the GBV process of Arigatou 4. Developing and building a suitable advocacy plan for the specific countries 5. Facilitating and encouraging alliance building, knowledge sharing and joint action plan for the region on GBV and Child Poverty

Programme outputs 1. A GBV Advocacy plan is developed for Burundi, DRC Congo, South Sudan and Somalia 2. Skills training and mentorship on GBV and Child Poverty in Post Conflict situations 3. A children advocacy network is conceived for further development through regional and country engagements

CURRENT CONTEXT IN THE DIFFERENT COUNTRIES

BURUNDI
Current GBV issues in Burundi that affect Children directly or indirectly:- * Insecurity that eventually leads to loss of live on a large scale including death of Children * Poverty * Arrest, torture and missing children * Displacement and poor living conditions in the existing shelters and IDP Camps * Corruption * Rising cases of defilement, sodomy and rape. * Violence at a political and social level. * Rising crime rate * Abandoned children * Youth unemployment, * Food Insecurity * Early marriages * Rise in street children and street families leading to rise in Child crime in the urban areas. * Children dealing with high level traumas from witnessing crime and violence * Violence in the families Traumatized children * Armed groups that are recruiting children and youth * Exploitation of children in the labor industries

Possible solution in Burundi * All stake holders should contribute to speeding up the attainment of peace in the country. * Strengthen the capacity of the youth and children to be part of the peace processes and in identifying and reporting cases of GBV * Social reintegration of homeless children and those from the street * Create a care center for children and victims of GBV * Social assistance for children and victims of GBV * Advocacy against impunity and corruption

DRC Congo
Current GBV issues in DRC that affect Children directly or indirectly:- * Rape, defilement and sodomy as a strategy of war * Early and forced marriages * Family disintegration and child abandonment leading to ‘wizard children’, street children, child soldiers among others * Early pregnancies * Marriage by abduction * Food and school Discrimination
Ongoing activities been undertaken by religious leaders * Sensitization of leaders and communities, though still very limited, * Counseling initiatives for victims, * Advocacy with governments and financing partners to increase resources to tackle rising cases of GBV * There are laws already legislated and in the process of legislation on Child protection, GBV and SGBV * Registration of children born out of rape and those abandoned SOMALIA

* Early Marriage fuelled by poverty and negative cultural practices * Female Genital Mutilation GM * Insecurity * Child prostitution * Sexual Harassment by security forces * Defilement and rape cases * Militarisation of children in to child soldiers and suicide bombers Child labour * Death of children while their parents are fleeing, either in the desert or in the Mediterranean sea * Corruption * Unemployment * Food insecurity * Displacement leading to IDPs and refugees

ADVOCACY
Definition of terms
Advocate - Someone who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy and a person who pleads a case on someone else’s behalf.
Advocacy- Deliberate process, based on demonstrated evidence, to directly and indirectly influence decision makers, stakeholders and relevant audiences to support and implement actions that contribute to the fulfilment of the targeted rights (In our case Children rights). Advocacy involves delivering evidence-based recommendations to decision makers, stakeholders and/or those who influence them.
Advocacy is a means of seeking change in governance, attitudes, power, social relations and institutional functions. It supports actions which are taken at scale, and which address deeper, underlying barriers to the fulfilment of children’s rights. The goal of advocacy can be to address imbalances, inequity and disparities, promote human rights, social justice, a healthy environment, or to further the opportunities for democracy by promoting children’s and women’s participation.
Advocacy requires organizing and organization. It represents a set of strategic actions and, at its most vibrant, will influence the decisions, practices and policies of others.

Foundation of effective and far reaching advocacy
1. Credibility

What makes ECP/Religious Leaders an effective advocate is our credibility, Expertise and trusting relationships, complemented by strong research and analysis, form the cornerstones of credibility.

Elements to consider5 * Can Religious leaders legitimately speak on behalf of those affected by GBV issues? * Are we known and respected by decision makers? * Are we perceived as objective and trustworthy, or politically partisan? * Are fully compliant with ethical standards of engagement with partners?

2. Skills
Advocacy is a skill that combines knowledge, good judgement and creative problem solving. Building skills for advocacy requires organizational commitment to training, capacity building and promoting staff ability to engage with a wide range of people, both within the office and with partners

Elements to consider * Does the office have staff with strong core advocacy skills for analysis, research and communication? If not, can it draw on such people from partners or other parts of the arganization? * Do staff members have adequate technical knowledge to develop an advocacy strategy and implement it? * Is there someone who has the capacity and skills to effectively monitor and evaluate advocacy?

3. Intra-office coordination and leadership

* Is there a strong degree of coordination and communication across sectors to work together on a coordinated advocacy strategy? * Is there strong leadership in the office for advocacy, including support from senior management? * Does everyone in the office understand their advocacy roles and responsibilities? * Are mechanisms in place for all staff to be aware of advocacy priorities and messages?

4. Capacity to generate and communicate relevant evidence
5. Ability to assess risks
6. Capacity to work with children and young people
7. Long-term partnerships that can form a broad base for advocacy
8. Sufficient resources

Developing an Advocacy Strategy
Creating an advocacy plan helps to understand the situation, stakeholders and their relative power, and how change happens; identify target audiences, the right messages, and the right messenger to deliver the message; identify processes, opportunities and entry points; recognise capacity and gaps; and finally set goals and interim outcomes, develop an action plan, and monitor and evaluate results.

Guiding questions 1. What do we want? 2. Who can make it happen? 3. What do they need to hear? 4. Who do they need to hear it from? 5. How can we make sure they hear it? 6. What do we have? 7. What do we need? 8. How do we begin to take action? 9. How can we tell if it’s working?

Importance of planning in advocacy
Planning is indispensable, and following are some of the reasons why: * Planning helps put resources (time, funds, skills) to their most effective use. * Planning helps minimize risks and maximize opportunities for advocacy. * Planning helps advocates navigate the complex, dynamic and diverse environments in which we operate Planning helps align advocacy with other areas of work and organizational goals, both long term and short term.

Elements to consider in Advocacy strategy
When you’re shaping a strategy for advocacy, the key elements will shift for different issues in different locations. The basics to review are: Context: Every political environment is different. Each presents its own opportunities and constraints. Governments have varying degrees of legitimacy and power vis-à-vis civil society, the private sector, transnational and international organizations and institutions. Political decisions are made differently depending on the nature of the state, politics, media and strength of civil society. In some places, the legislature has more authority. In others, the Minister of Finance dominates policymaking. Countries have different levels of freedom and access to the public sector. People use these opportunities differently depending on literacy, poverty and social relationships. A society’s culture, religion, ethnicity, race and economic development affect the level of tolerance and openness to social change. In some countries, advocacy at the local or the international level may be more feasible than at the national level.

Timing: Each moment in history presents distinct political opportunities and constraints. International economic trends may make a country tighten or expand political space. Elections or international conferences may provide opportunities to raise controversial issues. At some moments, a march or demonstration will draw attention to an issue. At others, a march may provoke repression.

Organization: In designing your strategy, it is important to be aware of the comparative strengths and weaknesses of UNICEF. How broad and strong is your potential support? Do you have well-placed allies? Is there a strong sense of common purpose among the leadership? Is decision-making efficient and responsive? What resources can you rely on? Are your aims clear and achievable? Can you draw on organizational history for learning and inspiration? Are advocates and participants open to viewing initiatives that didn’t succeed as valued opportunities for learning? Are there stories that can be used within the specific organization and in the wider UNICEF community?

Risk: Not all advocacy strategies can be used universally. In some places, a direct action aimed to reach a key decision-maker may be politically dangerous, or may weaken or reduce the potential for long-term change. In some countries, pushing for change that affects cultural beliefs may provoke a harsh backlash. Sometimes involving individuals who are usually excluded, like children and women, may cause family, social and community conflict. challenging relationships that affect power dynamics will more likely than not generate conflict. Organizers have a primary responsibility to find ways to navigate through opposition without taking on undue risk. In more closed environments, advocacy often takes the form of community action around basic needs and is not publicly referred to as ‘political’ advocacy. Whatever the context, sometimes risks need to be taken because there are no other options. In these cases, everyone involved must understand the potential risks.

Question 1. What do we want?- To understand the situation … * Developing a problem and solutions tree * Planning research * Generating an evidence base * Choosing advocacy priorities

Question 2. Who can make it happen?- To understand stakeholders, their relative power and how change happens … * Mapping stakeholders’ interests, influence and importance * Mapping stakeholders’ relative power * Mapping targets

Question 3. What do they need to hear? - To reach a specific audience … * eveloping evidence-based messages

Question 4. Who do they need to hear it from? - To Identify the right messenger for your audience… * Choosing messengers strategically

Question 5. How can we make sure they hear it?- To identify processes, opportunities and entry points … * Choosing the best channels to deliver your message * Identifying and planning opportunities * Lobbying * Negotiating
Question 6. What do we have? Question 7. What do we need?- To recognize capacities and gaps … * Advantages, challenges, threats, opportunities, next steps: the ACT-ON model for assessing internal advocacy capacity

Question 8. How do we begin to take action?- To set goals and interim outcomes and develop an action plan … * Being SMART * Advocacy action planning
Question 9. How do we tell if it’s working? To monitor and evaluate advocacy … * Using ‘logical frameworks’ to plan advocacy action

VALUE OF MULTI RELIGIOUS COOPERATION IN ADVOCACY AGAINST GBV AND ITS NEGATIVE IMPACT ON CHILDREN Maximise on the comparative advantages of Faith communities in combating GBV 1. A traditional orientation towards serving and promoting the wellbeing of the poor, vulnerable and disposed. 2. Legitimacy and moral authority that contribute to the mobilization of communities towards GBV campaign eradication. 3. A permanent historic and widely spread presence in society at large and local communities in particular. 4. Well-developed infrastructure, often including communication networks that link local, national, and international offices and 5. Social networks and assets to fight poverty. (E.g. facilities for worship, education, health, emergency relief, economic development and human rights, many of which have been successful in addressing GBV. Value of Multi Religious-Collaboration * Multi-religious corporation unleashes the hidden assets of religious communities and is more powerful both substantively and symbolically * Religious communities posse spiritual, moral and social assets that can be brought to bear utilizing the full range of existing structures. * Religious leaders have a long standing tradition of addressing issues of social injustice such as GBV in effective way * Religious leaders and communities bear the allegiance of billions of believers * They have the experience of establishing and working with international partners and expertise needed in the multinational and inter-religious task of ending GBV * Religious collaboration for ending GBV offers an opportunity for diverse faith communities to work together on issues that remind us of humanity * Religious leaders and communities can undertake or endorse public awareness campaigns or initiatives to draw attention to the issue and take a public stance against it Engaging Religious Communities * Collaborate with other religious leaders and communities * Engage all members of the community by; * Link the GBV to actions the community is already engaged in. * Holding special religious services * Work with the children and youth * Work with schools to incorporate the GBV into religious education. Advocating with and Monitoring the Government Advocacy and lobbying are essential to ensuring that government officials have the political will to integrate the Gender Based Violence Issues into public policy at Local, national and global levels by; * Writing letters to the local, regional and national leaders expressing concern regarding Gender based Violence * Requesting meetings with the leaders who can access and request a meeting to discuss policies related to GBV Issues * Collaborate with other religious and civil society organizations that have engaged in advocacy and lobbying and talk to them about their insights, best practices and possible partnerships * Stay in touch with the policy makers maintaining the relationship by sending them more information about GBVs offering to help gather public support, thanking them and Inviting them to events. Linking to civil society Of the six billion citizens, five billion identify themselves as members of religious communities. With one of the largest civil society constituencies, religious leaders are in a unique position to lead and engage the world community in addressing Gender based violence Issue at local, national and international levels * Local and National actions: Religious leaders can enhance the effectiveness of existing coalitions by contributing their moral authority and extensive network to campaign within and beyond their own communities * Collaborate: By inviting civil society organizations and key civil society actors to your religious community's Gender based Violence issues related events * Educate: Keeping the religious community informed about other campaigns addressing Gender Based Violence issues within the country encouraging them to take part in civil society actions * Global Actions: International GBV campaigns offer an important opportunity for religious leaders and communities to contribute their strong moral voices to the global fight against Gender based violence. Linking the work of your religious community to the international campaigns strengthens advocacy against Gender Based Violence worldwide. Make use of the Media Keeping the media informed is a vital component of any successful advocacy and public education campaign, the coverage expands the impact of actions taken increasing public awareness of Gender based Violence Issues informing the public of your views in regards to GBV. When leaders cross traditional boundaries of faith or community to unite behind common goal like fighting Gender Based Violence people take notice .Religious leaders can work through inter religious councils or form partnerships with local leaders of other faiths to issue joint statement to the press ,give joint interviews and demonstrate their shared commitment to advocate against GBV. * Publicize events: Invite the media to cover inter religious events or special worship services * Inform the media that you are meeting with government officials * Circulate press release when you join civil society campaigns * Announce upcoming events or campaigns and report on events after they happen * Call attention to government actions: Write editorials and letters to the editor or give interviews to call attention to government action and decisions. Encourage involvement in the political process. * Ways of Engaging the media Include; - Letters to the editor of local and national newspapers or magazines - Radio or television Interviews with religious leaders or other advocates in your faith community - Press releases about events or campaigns - Press conferences - Invitations to reporters to cover your events or report on specific concerns of your community General tip for action * Record and Publicize what you do * Identify and involve key stakeholders and send an invitation * Mobilize volunteers; find out who wants to get involved in your community * Identify primary audience e.g.. Religious leaders and communities, government officials ,political representatives, and the media, having great interest in the moral and religious significance of Addressing GBV * Carefully develop and stick to your message; a message that should answer what do you want? Why is it important? And how can it be achieved? * Promote Your event by making posters, distribute flyers, talk to people, use sms messages. * Make it personal by sharing stories, tying the gender based violence aspect to issues that face the community * Incorporate music, dance, theatre, and art drawing on the music and art of your faith and other traditions to express your ideas

ACTION PLANS
BURUNDI
WHAT | HOW | FOR WHO | WITH WHO | WHEN | WHERE | Train others on what we have learned at this conference | | | | | | Sensitizing the youth about their role in the consolidation of peace in Burundi | organize a youth outreach workshop | Youth | Network of women of faith | Early July 2016 with the celebration of Idil-Fitri | Bujumbura | Educate young people about the culture of peace, non-violence and reconciliation | - awareness workshop-festival-Walk For peace | Youth | Network of women of faith, IMCS | 21th September | Bujumbura | Sensitizing on GBV prevention and protection and their impact on children | Training workshop | Universities Religious leadersMediaDefense and security forces | Network of women of Faith, IMCS | November 2016 | Bujumbura | Celebrating the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty | Children’s Presentations; charity for disabled children, the victims of insecurity and GBV | Children | | | | Fight against early and forced marriages of young girls | | | | week of activism | |

SOUTH SUDAN | WHAT | HOW | WHEN | WHO/WITH WHO | WHERE | 1 | Awareness creation workshop | Workshop for religious leaders-35 | 15th July 2016 3days | SSCC/Hand of Grace/MGCSW/Muslims | Juba | 2 | AdvocacyEradicate GBV practices | * Churches/Mosqus * Media houses * Drama/Poem * Songs/Games | * Immediately-Sundays/Fridays * Religious events * International days of events | * Religious leaders * Christian | All over South Sudan. |

SOMALI WHAT | HOW | WHEN | WHO | * Reporting back to my community * Training young women and children on GBV and how they can get help | Through social mediaUse of existing social community groupings | * IDEP * 16 days of activism * DPAC * Other opportunities | * Ourselves * Community mobilisers |
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO WHAT | HOW | WHEN | WHERE | WITH WHO | Nairobi workshop restitution | Restitution workshop-Arigatou International-END CHILD POVERTY presentation | June 29, 2016 | KinshasaBukavu | religious leaders, youth associations and women leaders,Ministry of Gender, Family and Children, Division of Gender, Family and Children. | Sensitizing on GBV and their Impact on Congolese children | workshop on the situation of the children in relation to GBV | September 20, 2016 | KinshasaBukavu | religious leaders, youth and women’s associations leaders;Police, Army, Media, Associations for the defenses of children's rights | | March for children's rights | September 21, 2016 | the capitals of all the provinces | Believers, youth, women, children and the media | Sensitizing on the fight against child poverty | Tribune of Expression (PE) | October 17, 2016 | the capitals of all the provinces | Community leaders and local authorities; children, women, youth, provincial division of youth, social affairs division, provincial division of wife and family and child; Ministry of Gender | Day of Prayer and Action | Worship and sermons in churches, temples and mosques | November 20, 2016 | the capitals of all the provinces | Believers, Youth, Women, religious leaders and local authorities | | collection of donations for needy children | November 20, 2016 | The capitals of all the provinces | All people of Goodwill | Sensitization campaign against GBV and promotion of children's rights | Debates,Dialogue with social stratacultural evening with childrenProgram on Ratio stations | From November 25 to December 10 2016 | KinshasaBukavu | Different layers of the Community;Ministry of Social Affairs; of the youth ; Provincial Division of Social Affairs, |

Day of the African Child 2016
On June 16th every year, governments, NGOs, International Organisations and other stakeholders gather to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the full realization of the rights of children in Africa. This is in commemoration of the 1976 massacre of SOWETO children in the then apartheid South Africa. An analysis of the global persistence and even escalation of violence in all areas of life, including homes, communities, institutions, and armed conflicts, reveals that the vast majority of people damaged by the decisions made and the actions carried out by those in power (largely men) are children (and women). Most alarmingly, however, is that over half the world’s refugees are children. It is thus no wonder that this year, the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child deemed it necessary to dedicate the commemoration of the Day of the African Child 2016 to the millions of Children affected by the conflicts and the crises in the continent and beyond under the theme; “Conflict and Crisis in Africa: Protecting all children’s rights”.

To mark the day, End Child Poverty- Arigatou International Nairobi office brought together participants from Burundi, DRC Congo, Somali, South Sudan as part of an on-going program on Preventing and Eliminating Gender Based Violence and the Negative Impacts on Children in Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan and Somalia. The participants from the above countries were joined by other collaborating partners who included Children brought in by the All African Conference of Churches (AACC- Children and Youth Desk), International Movement of Catholic Students (IMCS Pax Romana), International Young Catholic Students (IYCS Africa), Refuge Point among others.
The greater call from the deliberations of those present was that the implementation of the principles and realisation of the aspirations of the rights of the Child in the continent and beyond very much depends on the willingness and readiness of a range of stakeholders including religious and community leaders. There was also the call for evidence-based communication and advocacy that each of the participants present committed to undertake