<h3 class="post-title subpt">To mark International Women’s Day, Elders Desmond Tutu and Graça Machel took to Twitter for a live Q&amp;A. This is a summary of how the event unfolded.</h3><div class="quoteblock"><div class="quotetext"></div></div><p>Graça Machel and Desmond Tutu answered questions on how to catalyse women's rights from a range of civil society, including entrepreneurs, activists, NGOs and youth groups.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>Desmond Tutu <a href="https://twitter.com/TutuLegacy">@TutuLegacy</a&gt; preparing to answer <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IWD?src=hash">#IWD</a&gt; questions. Ask him your gender equality question with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/askElders?src=hash">#askElders</a&gt; <a href="http://t.co/4oaDHEf2LJ">pic.twitter.com/4oaDHEf2LJ</a></p&gt;
— The Elders (@TheElders) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheElders/status/573842995327324160">March 6, 2015</a></blockquote>
<p>Many of the questions focussed on society's relationship with and treatment of women, from institutions like the media to boys and men.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>Is women's empowerment a myth when media glorifies violence against women? <a href="https://twitter.com/TheElders">@TheElders</a&gt; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IWD2015?src=hash">#IWD2015</a&gt; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/askElders?src=hash">#askElders</a></p&gt;
— Misean Cara (@miseancara) <a href="https://twitter.com/miseancara/status/573846835762229249">March 6, 2015</a></blockquote>
<p>Graça Machel lamented the media's portrayal of women as "simply victims," emphasising their roles as thinkers, entrepreneurs and leaders.</p>
<p>"We need to educate not only women to protect themselves but also how men regard women," she urged.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>.<a href="https://twitter.com/AfriDevInfo">@AfriDevInfo</a&gt; The most insecure boys and men tend to want to keep <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/women?src=hash">#women</a&gt; and girls in their place - Desmond Tutu <a href="https://twitter.com/TutuLegacy">@TutuLegacy</a&gt; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/askElders?src=hash">#askElders</a&gt; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IWD?src=hash">#IWD</a></p&gt;
— The Elders (@TheElders) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheElders/status/573853962614538241">March 6, 2015</a></blockquote>
<p>Another key theme discussed in the Q&amp;A was the responsibility of leaders to support gender equality and women's rights.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>How can we encourage our religious leaders to talk more about sex, condoms and contraception? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/askElders?src=hash">#askElders</a&gt; <a href="https://twitter.com/sgcathedral">@sgcathedral</a&gt; <a href="https://twitter.com/NetworkAthena">@NetworkAthena</a></p&gt;
— Georgina Y Caswell (@gycaswell) <a href="https://twitter.com/gycaswell/status/573816187768938497">March 6, 2015</a></blockquote>
<p>Graça Machel urged religious leaders to accept that "sexuality is part of human life," while Desmond Tutu replied that they have an opportunity to make their communities more open.</p>
<p>&nbsp;Answering a question on changing the gender narrative, Desmond Tutu highlighted the influence of leaders on the rest of society:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>.<a href="https://twitter.com/NaadiyaMoosajee">@NaadiyaMoosajee</a&gt; When those who are role models treat women as equals, then the narrative changes - Desmond Tutu <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/askElders?src=hash">#askElders</a&gt; <a href="https://twitter.com/TutuLegacy">@TutuLegacy</a></p&gt;
— The Elders (@TheElders) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheElders/status/573854821016604672">March 6, 2015</a></blockquote>
<p>&nbsp;Graça Machel emphasised that leaders can play a role in support of equality by speaking out against injustice towards women and girls, adding:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>.<a href="https://twitter.com/YZP">@YZP</a&gt; "Being a leader means you are infused with responsibility for driving what is right to do and how to do it" -GM <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AskElders?src=hash">#AskElders</a&gt; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IWD2015?src=hash">#IWD2015</a></p&gt;
— The Elders (@TheElders) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheElders/status/573851409541525507">March 6, 2015</a></blockquote>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>A key piece of information many of the Q&amp;A participants were looking for was what civil society and individuals can do to empower women.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>What role do you think civil society has to play in addressing challenges faced by women &amp; girls? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/askElders?src=hash">#askElders</a&gt; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IWD2015?src=hash">#IWD2015</a></p&gt;
— Girls Not Brides (@GirlsNotBrides) <a href="https://twitter.com/GirlsNotBrides/status/573852919843414016">March 6, 2015</a></blockquote>
<p>Graça Machel stressed how civil society can "change mindsets" and bring attention to norms that are harmful to individuals and communities.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>.<a href="https://twitter.com/PetriderPaul">@PetriderPaul</a&gt; We need to raise awareness to parents &amp; community leaders to develop a sense of valuing every child - GM <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AskElders?src=hash">#AskElders</a&gt; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IWD2015?src=hash">#IWD2015</a></p&gt;
— The Elders (@TheElders) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheElders/status/573847506431447040">March 6, 2015</a></blockquote>
<p>She and Desmond Tutu highlighted the importance of several factors for empowering girls in particular: giving girls access to information and knowledge through technology; ensuring girls are able to stay in school; mentoring and establishing support networks.</p>
<p>Desmond Tutu delivered the overarching message of the Q&amp;A:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>.<a href="https://twitter.com/dsw_worldwide">@dsw_worldwide</a&gt; If we hold back women, we hold back societies. Allow women to use gift God has given them, communities thrive -DT <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/askElders?src=hash">#askElders</a></p&gt;
— The Elders (@TheElders) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheElders/status/573863416147894272">March 6, 2015</a></blockquote>
<p><a href="http://theelders.org/article/what-can-we-do-change-gender-equation"><st… the full transcript of the Twitter Q&amp;A.</strong></a></p>