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From March 1 to March 31, the Ethiopia Network of Women Shelters joins the global community in commemorating Women’s History Month, a time dedicated to honoring the achievements, resilience, and leadership of women throughout history and across societies.

The 2026 Women’s History Month theme, “Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future,” highlights the critical role women play in building inclusive, resilient, and equitable societies. The month also includes International Women’s Day, observed annually on March 8, which serves as a key moment to recognize women’s leadership, resilience, and contributions while calling for accelerated action toward gender equality.

Women’s History Month also provides an opportunity to recognize the vital role women play in shaping families, communities, and national development, while also reflecting on the ongoing challenges many women and girls face, including gender-based violence (GBV) and unequal access to opportunities.

In Ethiopia, the commemoration highlights the importance of strengthening protection systems and ensuring that survivors of violence have access to safe, survivor-centered services. Through coordination of women’s shelters and collaboration with partners, ENWS continues to support women and girls by providing protection, psychosocial support, legal referrals, and reintegration assistance.

Women’s History Month further serves as a call for collective responsibility. ENWS encourages government institutions, civil society organizations, development partners, communities, and families to work together to prevent violence, challenge harmful social norms, and promote equality and respect. Engaging men and boys as allies remains an essential part of building safer and more inclusive communities.

By commemorating Women’s History Month, ENWS reaffirms its commitment to advancing protection, empowerment, and justice for women and girls across Ethiopia, contributing to a future where every woman and girl can live free from violence and reach her full potential.

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ENWS Highlights the Critical Role of Male Engagement and Positive Fatherhood in GBV Prevention

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — The Ethiopia Network of Women Shelters (ENWS) is calling for increased engagement of men and boys, particularly fathers, as key allies in efforts to prevent Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and promote safer, more equitable communities across Ethiopia.

Gender-Based Violence remains a serious human rights concern affecting women and girls nationwide. While survivor-centered protection and support services remain central to response efforts, ENWS emphasizes that sustainable prevention requires transforming social norms and actively involving men in promoting respect, equality, and non-violence.

“Ending GBV requires collective responsibility,” ENWS stated during its ongoing awareness initiatives. “Men and boys especially fathers have a powerful influence in shaping attitudes, behaviors, and values within families and communities.”

The Role of Fathers in Preventing Violence

ENWS highlights that fathers play a unique and influential role in preventing gender-based violence by modeling respectful relationships and positive behaviors at home. Children often learn their understanding of gender roles, communication, and conflict resolution from family environments.

Positive fatherhood contributes to:

• Teaching boys respect and empathy from an early age
• Demonstrating non-violent communication and shared decision-making
• Supporting girls’ confidence, safety, and equal opportunities
• Challenging harmful stereotypes about masculinity

When fathers promote equality within households, ENWS notes, they help break intergenerational cycles of violence and discrimination.

Promoting Positive Masculinity

Through community dialogues, awareness campaigns, and partnerships, ENWS works to encourage discussions around positive masculinity emphasizing responsibility, care, and mutual respect rather than dominance or control.

Men who openly reject violence and advocate for equality can influence peers and community norms, contributing to long-term behavioral and cultural change.

Community-Based Prevention Approaches

ENWS and its member shelters continue implementing prevention initiatives that actively involve men, youth groups, and community leaders. These programs aim to:

• Increase awareness of the impact of GBV on families and communities
• Encourage fathers’ participation in caregiving and parenting roles
• Promote healthy and respectful relationships
• Engage boys early through education on gender equality and emotional well-being

The organization stresses that prevention efforts are most effective when families and communities work together.

Strengthening Partnerships for Sustainable Change

ENWS calls upon government institutions, civil society organizations, faith leaders, and development partners to integrate male engagement and fatherhood-focused approaches into GBV prevention strategies.

“Fathers, community leaders, and young men can become champions for change,” ENWS emphasized. “Their leadership is essential in creating environments where women and girls live free from violence.”

A Shared Responsibility for Safer Communities

As Ethiopia advances efforts toward gender equality and protection of human rights, ENWS reaffirms its commitment to strengthening survivor services while expanding prevention initiatives that engage men and fathers as partners in change.

The network encourages families and communities to promote respectful relationships, challenge harmful norms, and support collective action to end gender-based violence.

ENWS Message

“The Ethiopia Network of Women Shelters (ENWS) reaffirms its commitment to preventing gender-based violence through survivor-centered services, community engagement, and collaborative partnerships. ENWS calls upon men, fathers, youth, institutions, and communities to take shared responsibility in promoting equality, respect, and non-violence.

Ending gender-based violence requires collective action. By fostering positive masculinity, strengthening families, and empowering communities, lasting change can be achieved and safer futures can be built for women, girls, and all members of society.”