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Evidence-based programming to end VAWG requires accurate, quality data that is relevant to the context in which a programme is being implemented. Programmes can help improve the quality, accuracy and availability of data on VAWG by:

Supporting capacity strengthening for national statistics offices
Supporting more accessible presentation of data to inform decision making
Promoting the use of data to guide programme monitoring

Read more in the Data, Evidence and Learning section.

Comprehensive VAWG programming requires providing access to quality, survivor-centred response services to meet the needs of survivors and seek to prevent further violence (secondary prevention). Comprehensive service delivery engages multiple sectors, including:

Medical facilities
Mental health and psychosocial support services
Legal entities
Police
Safe Spaces/ Shelter
Legislative bodies
Social protection and income generating programmes
Education and training institutions such as schools
Community reintegration programmes
It may not always be possible or appropriate to…

Efforts to end VAWG should recognise the importance of primary prevention through addressing the multiple risk factors that drive violence. Programmes should work with communities and institutions to identify and implement contextually-relevant prevention strategies, which might include one or more of the following:

Social norm transformation efforts
Community mobilisation
Healthy relationship initiatives
Economic empowerment programmes
Social empowerment programmes
Political advocacy and legislative change
Programming in formal and informal education settings
Working with men…

Ending VAWG requires commitment from national and regional institutions. Programmes can support efforts to strengthen the commitment and capacity of institutions to end VAWG through:

Providing technical assistance and capacity building on the impact of VAWG and ways to end VAWG.
Supporting the development of fully financed national action plans (NAPs) on ending VAWG.
Promoting gender-responsive ministries and gender-responsive budgeting.
Facilitating linkages and collaboration across institutions working on gender, migration, disability, poverty, ethnicity, age, location, education…

Efforts to end VAWG are often supported by consortia of organisations. When working with multiple organisations, it is important to address the risk of siloed working, to maximise efficiency of resources and capacities, support coordination, streamline operational processes, strengthen partnerships, and establish clear lines of accountability. This can be achieved by:

Utilising existing coordination mechanisms. For example, UN entities working to end VAWG can use the UN Resident Coordinators to facilitate collaboration across different UN entities. This was a key mechanism by Spotlight…

Programmes to end VAWG should recognise the diverse ways that different groups and entities can contribute to these efforts. Programmes should seek to engage multiple stakeholders as partners from across government, civil society, women’s rights organisations, community and traditional leaders, the private sector, academia, the media, and others. This can help to ensure political commitment and buy-in, reduce backlash, increase coordination and collaboration, improve effectiveness, ensure programmes are contextually appropriate, and promote sustainability. 

Programmes can support the…

Collecting evidence is often a key component of legal and justice proceedings related to cases of VAWG. It is essential that programmes working with the legal and justice sector to improve their evidence collection methods integrate strong data protection mechanisms into their work. Without strong data protection mechanisms, there is a risk that evidence gathered from VAWG survivors could be leaked, putting them at risk of further violence. This violence could come from both perpetrators, families and communities. 

In many contexts, survivors of VAWG and the families of survivors of VAWG go to traditional and faith leaders to support dispute resolution, even when formal dispute resolution options are available. However, in contexts with existing patriarchal hierarchies and harmful practices that put women and girls at risk of VAWG, traditional and faith leaders may not take a survivor-centred approach to dispute resolution processes. For example, they may blame the survivor for the perpetrator’s actions or focus on retribution for the family rather than the survivor herself. In some contexts, this can…

Depending on the nature of the mobile or remote services offered, there may still be a need to connect survivors to further services. It is therefore important to ensure these services are integrated into wider referral systems and to strengthen these as needed. For example, in order to maximise the quality of care and referrals available to survivors, service providers should consider the following actions:

Develop and/or standardise protocols and policies for GBV-related programming that ensure confidential, compassionate and quality care of survivors and referral pathways for multi…

Many survivors will not disclose violence to a service provider (i.e. healthcare) due to fear of repercussions, social stigma, rejection from partners/families and other reasons. If service providers are not well trained, they may not be able to detect the indicators of violence. If the provider does not ask the right questions, or if the facility’s information doesn’t clearly show available services, survivors might feel discouraged from asking for help. Similarly, if the provider behaves in a way that suggests they will not handle reports of violence with respect, survivors might feel…