Strengthening relations between parliamentarians and civil society organisations, particularly women’s rights organisations, can help to enhance advocacy and action on VAWG. These relationships thrive on a foundation of trust, mutual respect and a shared commitment to addressing VAWG. Regular meetings, briefings, and sharing of useful materials can help to establish a deeper understanding of the issues. Sometimes it is useful to think about these relationships beyond influencing current policy and work to establish a foundation of meaningful dialogue and collaboration around VAWG.

Engaging with parliamentarians from different political parties and committees and those who hold various roles, such as legislative leaders or members of women’s caucuses, can help ensure that the work remains bipartisan or multi-partisan and resilient to political changes. During political transitions, it is particularly important to build relationships with a diverse range of parliamentarians and be proactive in reaching out to newly elected officials. It is also a time to reaffirm connections with returning parliamentarians and reinforce the ongoing importance of work around VAWG. As administrations change, it can help to consider how best to align with the broader political agenda. For example, if a new administration is focused on healthcare, highlight how VAWG intersects with health issues.

Sharing real-life examples and testimonies that illustrate the impact of VAWG on the electorate can help parliamentarians to personally engage with the issues. Parliamentarians are often more likely to act when they see the urgency for legislative action and can relate to their constituents’ experiences. However, it is important to handle these narratives with sensitivity. Care should be taken to support survivors’ well-being and avoid re-traumatising them. An example of the effectiveness of personal testimonies is the experience of a grassroots movement of women in Senegal who supported each other to tell their stories before Parliament when it was considering a law prohibiting female genital mutilation. The coalition successfully convinced the legislators to take action to stop FGM.

Parliamentarians and their staff can benefit from specialised training and/or workshops on a variety of topics related to VAWG. For example, understanding the legal frameworks at national, regional and international levels can help when creating new laws or amending existing laws. Equipping parliamentarians with training in gender-responsive budgeting can also enable them to allocate national budget allocations effectively to crucial VAWG initiatives. For example, 14 Spotlight Initiative countries have seen a ten-fold increase in national budget allocations by working with national partners and placing VAWG at the heart of national development plans. It is also useful to take a gender-transformative and experiential approach to trainings, to allow parliamentarians to reflect on their personal attitudes and societal norms.

Sharing the latest research and data regarding the prevalence and impact of violence can provide the evidence needed to drive action. For some parliamentarians, data on the economic costs of VAWG can be particularly persuasive in making the case for investing in prevention and support programmes, as well as the value of dedicated resources. Examples of best practices in VAWG programming can also guide parliamentarians towards evidence-based strategies that are proven to work. Remember to share evidence in ways that are digestible for busy parliamentarians.

Engaging with women parliamentarians and women’s caucuses can help ensure that legislative bodies are better equipped to understand, formulate and implement policies on VAWG. It can also encourage collaboration across party lines and chambers on VAWG issues. An example of such an initiative under Spotlight Initiative is the formation of the women’s parliamentary caucus in Jamaica. This caucus aims to be a unifying platform for all women parliamentarians, irrespective of their political affiliation or legislative chambers. Its core purpose is to facilitate networking, foster meaningful dialogue on women’s rights and VAWG, and support the objectives outlined in Jamaica's National Strategic Action Plan to Eliminate GBV (2017-2027).

Identifying and encouraging champions among parliamentarians and support staff can help progress legislative action and policy. This can be done through public acknowledgement, media highlights, or simply providing them with necessary resources to further amplify their impact. An interesting example is the Voices for Change programme in Nigeria, which reinstated a ‘Gender Technical Unit’ (an internal resource centre within the National Assembly). The involvement of the support staff and clerks in this unit was said to be ‘invaluable’ in passing the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Bill. The support staff’s role as allies helped to speed processes through, and their institutional knowledge was essential when a general election meant that half of the legislators changed.

Examples of times when messages around VAWG are more likely to resonate with parliamentarians include key legislative calendars, budget cycles and international observance days like International Women’s Day (8 March) or the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (25 November - 10 December). There are also ‘pressure points’ during government reshuffles and post-election, when new parliamentarians may be more receptive to fresh ideas and partnerships. Similarly, outgoing parliamentarians may wish to leave a legacy, as in Nigeria when the outgoing President, Goodluck Jonathan, signed the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) bill at the end of his term. International or regional conferences can also create a conducive environment for parliamentarians to accelerate action. For example, in Ghana, the combination of a new Minister for Women and Children’s Affairs appointment and the momentum from the UN Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing (1995), which focused on violence against women, was seen as pivotal in increasing Government responsiveness to the domestic violence bill.