From Silence to Solidarity: Action in the Face of Injustice

"I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own." – Audre Lorde 

How can we call ourselves free when millions of women across the globe remain bound by the chains of violence, inequality, and exploitation? With every reported case of gender-based violence (GBV), we are reminded that gender-based violence is not an abstract issue. It is a lived reality for far too many women. 

Across their lifetime, 1 in 3 women, around 736 million are subjected to violence. Globally, women and girls make up 7 in 10 trafficking victims and account for 71% of modern slavery victims. Behind these numbers are stories of unimaginable pain, resilience, and often, silence. 

Throughout history, sisterhood—both local and global—has been the root of resistance against oppression. The collective strength of women standing together remains one of the most powerful tools in the fight for equality and safety. But as essential as sisterhood is, it is not enough on its own. 

We need allies, especially men, to step forward.

Consider this powerful example: a Kenyan man whose wife tragically lost her life due to abuse in Saudi Arabia. Rather than remaining silent, he has become a vocal advocate, demanding justice not just for his wife but for countless women who face similar fates. His courage and refusal to accept injustice exemplify the role men can play in dismantling patriarchal systems. 

Yet, stories like his rarely make headlines. This silence reflects a pervasive problem: the normalization of gender-based violence and the underacknowledged role men can play in combating it. 

At Global Justice Group- Kenya, we are committed to breaking this silence. We call for male allies to step forward—not just to "support" women but to stand in genuine solidarity. The struggle against gender-based violence is not a “women’s issue.” The problem is male violence, both locally and globally. 

In Kenya alone, one woman is murdered every 24 hours in a femicide. In the last three months, 97 women and girls have come forward to report sexual abuse. Yet, the true scale of the crisis remains hidden, as countless cases go unreported, silenced by fear, stigma, isolation, and the crushing weight of social exclusion. 

So, what can you do?

You may think this doesn’t apply to you. But ask yourself:

When was the last time you cracked a sexist joke to get a laugh? When was the last time you defended a gender stereotype with, “That’s just the way things are,” to dodge accountability? When was the last time you saw someone cross a woman’s boundaries but stayed silent because “nothing serious happened”? 

These seemingly small actions and inactions feed a culture that legitimizes harassment, abuse, and even femicide. 

When asked what measures they take to ensure their son doesn’t become a perpetrator, many parents respond, 'My son would never…'. But how come, nearly everyone knows someone who has been abused, while only few can name an abuser within their social circle? The reality is that especially in societies where marginalized people are often viewed with general suspicion or disproportionately targeted, and privilege silently paves the way for violence without consequence, it is horribly easy to become a perpetrator—sometimes without even realizing it. 

So next time, instead of asking, "What can I do to protect women from harm?" ask, "What can I do to be an ally in the liberation of women?" 

As Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o reminds us, “The struggle for women’s liberation is part and parcel of the struggle for human liberation. It is not enough for men to just support the movement. They must stand in solidarity as equals in the fight for justice.” 

The time for silence has passed. Together, let us break the chains of violence, inequality, and oppression. Let us build a world where every woman can live free!