Empowering Men to Break the Cycle of GBV-Raising Fathers Initiative

As we continue commemorating the 16 Days of Activism, more voices are coming out to speak against Gender Based Violence that targets women and create an unsafe space for them.

It should be noted that ending gender-based violence requires a deep and honest understanding of its roots before you can engage in any action. In many societies, the majority of perpetrators are men. This reality does not mean that all men are violent or that men are naturally harmful. Instead, it shows us where healing and transformation are most urgently needed.

Mubiru at raising fathers Initiative notes that If we want lasting change, we must go to the source of the struggle, not to accuse men, but to help them become who they were created to be. He adds that at Raising Fathers Initiative, their mission is to walk with men and guide them toward true manhood and fatherhood as God intended. “Real change begins when a man discovers his identity in Christ.

When he understands that he is loved, chosen, and empowered by God, something shifts inside him. He no longer feels the need to control through fear or to respond with anger. He begins to understand that Christ’s model of manhood is rooted in love, sacrifice, and responsibility.” He stresses

Mubiru explains that many men who mistreat their wives or children are not acting out of desire, but out of deep wounds that have never been dealt with. Some grew up without fathers, some were raised in violent homes, some carry rejection, and others have been emotionally hurt by their partners, and because they were never taught how to express pain in healthy ways, the body reacts through aggression, silence, or withdrawal.
In moments of pressure, frustration, or fear, violence becomes a reflex. “This is why healing is not optional; it is essential. When men are supported, listened to, and taught a new way of living, it opens a door for transformation.” Mubiru expresses the need for men to feel safe to open up before any healing process as many have never been told that it is okay to feel pain, to cry, or to struggle. As RFI, we believe that through counselling, mentorship, prayer, and
community, men learn to face their wounds instead of hiding them.

As they encounter God, they discover that their past does not define them and that Christ offers a new identity built on strength, grace, and purpose. A healed man becomes patient, gentle, and intentional.

He learns to love his wife the way Christ loves the church with selfless commitment, listening, and compassion. He learns to father his children with presence, guidance, and encouragement. He begins to understand that responsibility is not a burden but a calling. However, he believes that when men are restored, their families will be restored, too.

When a man becomes whole, his home becomes safer. When
he understands his value, he no longer needs to prove it through
dominance or anger. When he is secure in God, he becomes a protector, not a threat. This is why RFI is committed to walking with men because the healing of one man can transform a marriage, a family, and eventually a community. If we want to end gender-based violence, we must help men heal, grow, and rise into their God-given identity. A healed man becomes a blessing, and where healed men stand, violence loses its power.

Similarly, a human resource and administration manager at concern for the girl child Flavia Mubiru, at the Concern for the girl child notes that Gender- Based Violence affects both women and men, and its impact echoes through families, communities, and generations. “As we mark the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, Concern for the Girl Child (CGC) stands in solidarity with every survivor and every voice calling for change.” She stresses

According to Flavia, for 25 years, CGC has walked with girls, families, and communities, breaking cycles of violence, restoring dignity, and creating spaces where girls can grow in safety and courage. But the fight is far from over.

Silence allows violence to thrive, and fear keeps too many victims, girls, boys, women, and men, trapped in the shadows. Flavia expresses that this year, as we raise our voices to declare that every form of violence is unacceptable and that protection is a collective
responsibility, calling on parents, leaders, teachers, fathers, and young
people to stand together and speak out.

She calls upon the public to challenge harmful norms, support survivors, and nurture families built on respect and compassion. “Ending gender-based violence is not a women’s issue or a men’s issue. It is a human issue. As CGC continues its mission of empowering girls and strengthening families, we reaffirm our commitment to building communities where every child is safe, valued, and able to thrive. Let us not
be silent. Let us speak out. Let us act together.” She arged