Why the story of violence against women needs a re-write | Kelly Shawn Joseph | TEDxLausanneWomen

In August 2021, as the Taliban advanced on Kabul, Kelly Shawn Joseph received urgent calls and messages from women in Afghanistan seeking help. A global network of women's rights activists mobilized to coordinate evacuations, as women faced unthinkable choices between leaving their homes with nothing or enduring imprisonment, torture, or worse under the Taliban. This desperate situation underscored the power of collective action by women.

Joseph's life's work is dedicated to preventing and responding to all forms of violence against women and girls. She views this violence as aggression and exploitation, not an abstraction but a lived reality for many. Having worked with survivors across 30 countries, she has witnessed the horrors of sex trafficking, child marriage, domestic abuse in refugee camps, and rape, highlighting how violence is woven into every aspect of victims' lives.

Joseph identifies three critical misconceptions about violence against women. Firstly, focusing solely on statistics like 'one in three women' dehumanizes the issue; she reminds the audience that this number includes many women in their immediate lives, including herself. Secondly, she challenges the perception that violence is a 'distant' problem, emphasizing its interconnectedness across borders and its roots in shared patriarchal structures, citing the case of Giselle Pelico as an example of universal violence.

The third misconception Joseph tackles is the idea that humanitarians are 'heroes' and victims need 'rescuing.' She quotes Lilla Watson, stating, 'if you have come here because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.' Joseph, as a survivor, emphasizes that her work is driven by the understanding that her liberation is tied to the liberation of every woman. She believes a world free from violence requires mutual interdependency and collective action.

Joseph shares her hope for her daughter to live in a world where violence against women is a relic of the past, encouraging everyone to 'rewrite this story.' She outlines four key actions: 'See it' (recognize the violence and connect with women globally), 'Speak it' (speak out against all forms of violence and understand its systemic roots), 'Be an upstander' (talk about rights, equality, and challenge silence), and 'Support it' (support local women's shelters and movements).

Joseph directly addresses men, asking them to confront their discomfort and acknowledge that while not all men are violent, perpetrators are men. She calls on male allies to continue speaking out, guided by women's wisdom. She stresses the importance of breaking intergenerational taboos and starting conversations in one's own community, asserting that every act of bravery contributes to a larger movement. Joseph concludes by urging everyone to use their power to build a future free from violence through collective beauty, solidarity, and liberation.