Cooperation between Italy and Africa: Addis Ababa hosted a training course on “Mitigating gender-based violence in elections”
As part of the She Votes Africa initiative, funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), the Training of Trainers (ToT) course on “Mitigating Gender-Based Violence in Elections” was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from April 28 to 30, 2025.
The program, organized by the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, in collaboration with the Coalition of Ethiopian Civil Society Organizations for Elections (CECOE), is part of broader efforts to promote women's leadership and build more inclusive electoral environments in Africa by strengthening the capacity of civil society organizations (CSOs) to identify, prevent, and respond to gender-based violence (GBV) in electoral processes.
During the three days of training, a group of 25 representatives of civil society organizations, selected according to gender balance, participated in a structured program aimed at enhancing their skills and acquiring practical tools to transfer the knowledge acquired at the community level.
The main topics covered during the course included: Understanding the forms, causes, and impacts of gender-based violence in the electoral cycle; Analysis of national and international regulatory frameworks on electoral GBV; Strategies for documentation, reporting, prevention, and advocacy against gender-based violence in elections; Participatory training techniques and community engagement through practical sessions; Building collaboration and partnership networks between CSOs at the national and regional levels.
The program adopted a participatory methodological approach, combining theoretical presentations, group discussions, practical simulations, case study analysis, and exercises. Each participant developed an action plan to replicate the training activity in their own communities, thus ensuring the sustainability and widespread dissemination of the results obtained.
The course was organized as part of the Master's program in Electoral Policy and Administration, directed by Lorenzo Gasbarri, researcher in international law at the Dirpolis Institute, and coordinated by Dr. Melvis Ndiloseh (Head Tutor) and Marybelle Cherfan (Didactic Coordinator).
The course concluded with an official certificate award ceremony attended by representatives of the Sant'Anna School, CECOE, and expert trainers.
This initiative represents a further step forward in building a safer and more inclusive electoral environment, confirming Italy's commitment, through She Votes Africa, to promoting women's rights, democracy, and equal participation in decision-making processes in Africa.
