Shifting norms for gender justice: evidence on what works.

Following the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW62), ODI and ALIGN co-hosted a dynamic event at the UN CSW NGO Forum.

The event was chaired by Patti Petesch, Consultant & Expert Advisor for GENNOVATE, and consisted of ‘project spotlights’ offered by the following speakers: 

• Lori Michau, Raising Voices
• Hadeezah Haruna-Usie, Girl Effect
• Workneh Yadete, Gender and Adolescence: Global Evidence (GAGE)
• Christina Kwangwari, ActionAid International
• Aukje te Kaat, Aflatoun 
• Zoe Carletide, World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. 

They profiled examples of what works to change harmful gender norms – and what doesn’t – from the perspective of their projects, drawing lessons on how to improve policy and practice to support positive norm change. 

Common themes included a clear focus across projects on the importance of supporting education as a route to challenge harmful norms and of improving policy and access to harness the power of technology to connect young women and promote positive understandings of gender.