Violence Against Women in Politics – Part 1

About this TOU and Lead Integrity event:

The vision for this dialogue is to bring together presenters from a variety of backgrounds to explore the many forms of violence experienced by women in a variety of political arenas, including political parties, judicial, legislative, executive, advocacy and lobbying NGOs, social movements, rebel militias, military armies, etc.

The presenters are from a variety of backgrounds and countries and will share their personal experiences as well as offer a variety of solutions, recommendations, and insights. Their combined knowledge of a diverse range of social and political actors as mediators and participants in politics, as well as their knowledge of the intersections with faith dynamics, will add depth, scope, and overall wisdom to the discussion.

This dialogue is Part 1 of a two-part series on violence against women. Part 2 will be the Commission on the Status of Women co-sponsored event offered by the TOU and Lead Integrity in March 2025.

Speakers include:

Ela Gandhi

Ela Gandhi is a South African peace activist, former parliamentarian, and granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi. She has devoted her life to promoting nonviolence, social justice, and the values of her grandfather.

Through her work with the Gandhi Development Trust, she supports initiatives focused on peace education, community empowerment, and interfaith dialogue in South Africa and beyond. Ela is also a Hollister Award recipient.

James Patton

James Patton, a partner with Lead Integrity, is the former President and CEO of the International Center for Religion and Diplomacy (ICRD), where he led efforts to bridge religious divides and foster peace in conflict-prone regions.

With extensive experience in conflict resolution and interfaith dialogue, he works globally to bring together religious leaders and policymakers to address complex social and political issues through faith-based solutions.

Filsan Ahmed

Filsan Ahmed is an Ethiopian politician and activist who served as the Minister of Women, Children, and Youth in Ethiopia. As the youngest minister in the country’s history, she has been a vocal advocate for women’s rights and youth empowerment.

Filsan is known for her courageous stance against human rights abuses, particularly in advocating for the victims of violence in Ethiopia. In addition to her ministerial role, she is also the Director of the Horn Peace Institute, where she continues her efforts to promote peace and stability in the Horn of Africa region.

Dr. Fulata Moyo

Fulata Lusungu Moyo is a feminist ethicist of Ubuntu who leads by example, and employs a sense of humour to laugh at self and learn from others. With a certificate in mediation, Moyo is an effective negotiator with a vast expertise in gender and intersectionality, human rights and community mobilization. Her PhD ethnographic research investigated how culture and religion socialise women to enhance their negotiation skills, and instill their sense of gender and sexual identity.

She is a Founder of Thimlela-STREAM that adopts survivor-centered approaches to combatting human trafficking. She is AfriAus iLEAC Vice-President. She holds a PhD in Human Sciences from University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, with course work from Yale University, USA. As a Viktor Frankl Logotherapy student and a trained facilitator for the Institute of Healing of Memories, she has attentive listening and effective communication skills. She has extensive experience in designing and implementing programs that are inclusive. She is a University of Malawi Editor, an effective trainer and outstanding team player with exceptional capacity building skills. She utilizes strong analytical, research, and writing skills for problem-solving. Her Harvard Divinity School visiting scholarship built her skills to develop relevant theory and practice in leadership and Peacebuilding.