8.5.2 A bigger question should be – what has sustained violence against women through all the generations? What is it that can be done differently? 8.5.3 We have to go beyond simple rhetoric and address violence in our daily lives – both women and men. It has to be everyone's business. 9.0 The Role of Parliamentarians 9.1 As Parliamentarians, we need to secure women's rights, by not only enacting laws that protect women from violence, but by challenging social norms which undermine women's rights, expanding access to legal services, economic resources and health services for women. Laws should criminalise domestic violence, FGM, child marriage and rape. Since legislation by itself is not sufficient, it is fundamental for Parliamentarians to support development and approve gender specific budget allocations for health, implementation of programmes, education, awareness campaigns, and counselling services. 9.2 Parliamentarians and Women's Parliamentary caucuses should forge strategic partnerships with National Women's Machineries and Civil Society Organisations to form coordinated support for provision of multi-sectoral services, programmes and responses to survivors of gender-based violence. 9.3 Parliamentarians can also utilize their community mobilisation power to raise awareness and address structural underlying causes and risk factors to prevent Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). We can help sensitise people and shape public opinion. 9.4 The wider community can be engaged by Parliamentarians, in an open debate, on changing social norms and attitudes to send the message that VAWG is unacceptable, will not be tolerated and perpetrators will be brought to justice. 9.5 Police, prosecutors, judges, health care providers, social workers, religious and community leaders can be brought together to wage the battle together and hold each other accountable. 9.6 Parliamentarians are also called to strive to ensure that child marriage is a critical issue on the political agenda and follow up issues in close collaboration with civil society. We can also play a crucial role in the leadership and engagement on abandonment to galvanise the attention of community leaders and the media. 10.0 Conclusion 10.1 A law is potent only if it has the financial and human resources required for its implementation. These financial requirements should be reflected in budget allocations. 10.2 Ending VAWG requires the full engagement of all sectors of society, that is involving law makers, civil society agents, religious and community leaders, law enforcement agencies, social workers and health care providers. +++++++++++