What works to prevent violence against women? Here’s what the evidence says

Journalist and activist Jess Hill’s Quarterly essay argues Australia basic prevention framework The end of violence against women does not work.

Hill claims that the framework is focused too much on solving gender inequalities and changes in attitudes, while overlooking the key possibilities of solving the problems of violence, such as abusing children, alcohol and gambling.

So what do they work according to evidence to prevent violence against women?

Australia plan to reduce and prevent violence

The World Health Organization is estimated structure It leads most global intervention programs and includes seven specific strategies for preventing violence against women:

• RElination skills strengthening
• meWomen’s attachment
• SErvices provided
• Pexcessively reduced
• meNvironments (schools, jobs, public spaces) made it sheltered
• CHild and teens prevented
• Tattitudes, beliefs and norms.

They are embedded in 12 Australian preventive frames, called Change historyBut they are not clearly mentioned.

Respect strategies are also included in Australia National plan for the end of violence against women and children in the years 2022-2032.

Interventions are usually divided into three complementary, but overlapping approaches: primary (prevention), secondary (early intervention) and tertiary (answers).

Basic prevention of change. History aims to solve the basic factors of violence before its occurrence. But most of the interventions have double goals to reduce or prevent current and future violence when we transform into a community free of violence.

Australian national plan includes a reduction in harmful employ of alcohol, children’s support for life from violence, maintaining perpetrators to take into account, change laws and promote gender equality in public and private life.

Together, these strategies disappear in harmful attitudes that drive domestic violence.

What do they work according to evidence?

Systematic reviews intervention to prevent or reduce Violence against women and girls states that a sufficient investment in the right programs can deal with the basic factors of violence and lead to significant restriction and prevention of violence.

Reviews specify that the most successful interventions usually do not separate prevention from early intervention and reaction. They Focus on Sex dynamics, power and control and locally significant social structures that deprive women and girls.

Global program What works to prevent violence against women and girlsFor example, 96 intervention assessments were reviewed. Of these, seven interventions had positive effects in all three areas of reacting, reducing and preventing domestic violence.

None of the effective interventions were the same, but they had common features.

One of the common success indicators was that they turned to many drives of violence, and at the same time existed in the lives of participants critical in the lives, for example Intervention to reduce HIV Or Couples counseling. These two interventions were designed to question gender inequalities and employ violence, while strengthening couples with better communication skills.

Effective interventions also included support for people who survived, such things as mental health support, sheltered spaces, strengthening actions and mediation skills.

Equally critical was working with perpetrators or key influential people, such as other family members or local leaders. One example Developed in Tajikistan Those interested in in -laws that enabled juvenile women to participate and implement ideas from the family life program.

The last two key elements of successful interventions were related to the implementation of programs: the ability to deliver the program with sufficient, well -trained and supported staff and for a long time enabling reflection and learning through experience.

. Transforming masculinity The program in the Democratic Republic of Congo promoted gender equality and positive masculinity in the communities of faith. Careful selection of employees and volunteers was of key importance for the success of the intervention.

Effective interventions were delivered within 15 to 30 months. They included a combination of social and weekly workshops, enabling facilitators to employ content from previous sessions.

Combining this, the most effective programs were rigorously planned and suitable for a group of customers. They focused on many basic factors of violence against women and girls. They worked with perpetrators and influential communities. They also worked with survivors and supported.

Elements that prevented effective programs included low -term or inappropriate financing and lack of sufficient planning to ensure adaptation of intervention to the client’s context.

We have clear evidence about the types of programs that can prevent and reduce violence against women and girls, both on the international and Australian arena. We also have service providers and program leaders who share evidence with governments for over five decades. We now need will and commitment to intensive programming.

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Read more: Despite several key milestones since 2000, Australia still has a long way to get sex equality

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