Violence Against Women： Focusing on Prevention to Stop the Violence

Violence against women and girls is rooted in gender-based discrimination and social norms and gender stereotypes that perpetuate such violence. Given the devastating effect violence has on women， efforts have mainly focused on responses and services for survivors. However， the best way to end violence against women and girls is to prevent it from happening in the first place by addressing its root and structural causes.

Prevention should start early in life， by educating and working with young boys and girls promoting respectful relationships and gender equality. Working with youth is a “best bet” for faster， sustained progress on preventing and eradicating gender-based violence. While public policies and interventions often overlook this stage of life， it is a critical time when values and norms around gender equality are forged.

Prevention entails supporting the implementation of the agreed conclusions of the 57th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women （CSW） that placed a strong focus on prevention through the promotion of gender equality， women’s empowerment and their enjoyment of human rights. It also means making the home and public spaces safer for women and girls， ensuring women’s economic autonomy and security， and increasing women’s participation and decision-making powers—in the home and relationships， as well as in public life and politics. Working with men and boys helps accelerate progress in preventing and ending violence against women and girls. They can begin to challenge the deeply rooted inequalities and social norms that perpetuate men’s control and power over women and reinforce tolerance for violence against women and girls.

Awareness raising and community mobilization， including through media and social media， is another important component of an effective prevention strategy.

UN Women： Our solutions

1. Education for prevention

UN Women， in partnership with the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts （WAGGGS） has developed a global non-formal education curriculum to engage young people in efforts to prevent and end violence against girls and women.

A first of its kind， “Voices against Violence” is a co-educational curriculum designed for various age groups ranging from 5 to 25 years. It provides young people with tools and expertise to understand the root causes of violence in their communities， to educate and involve their peers and communities to prevent such violence， and to learn about where to access support if violence is experienced.

The curriculum includes a Handbook for peer educators that will help them deliver age-appropriate sessions， as well as age-appropriate non-formal education activities. The youngest groups may start out with storytelling and games that prompt them to think about gender bias and stereotypes， while older age groups can organize poster competitions， visit and volunteer with local shelters， or develop local community-based campaigns and projects to address specific forms of violence against girls and women.

Voices against Violence is a tool for young people around the world. It can be adapted to national context， translated into local languages， and rolled out in schools and communities in partnership with youth organizations， UN partners and governments.

2. Working with men and boys

At a regional level， UN Women supports Partners for Prevention （P4P）， a regional UN joint programme for Asia and the Pacific that provides new knowledge and technical support to prevent gender-based violence in the region. The Programme’s long-term goal is to reduce the prevalence of gender-based violence in the region through behaviour and attitudinal change among boys and men， increase institutional capacity and facilitate policy enhancements.

At a national level， UN Women supports a range of prevention activities， supporting research to get data on the attitudes， perceptions and behaviour of men and boys as well as young people related to various forms of violence； supporting advocacy， awareness-raising， community mobilization and educational programmes， as well as legal and policy reforms.

消除對婦女的暴力， 應從通過其根源和結構成因入手，從根源遏制其發生。應開展對兒童的早期教育，樹立相互尊重的兩性關系和性別平等的觀念。應支持聯合國婦女署的相關決議及實施，重視性別平等、婦女賦權和婦女享有人權，為所有女性包括女童構建安全的家庭和公共環境，增加女性的經濟獨立能力等。聯合國婦女署的解決方案：1.開展預防教育。聯合國婦女署與相關機構共同開發了一項全球性的民間課程，鼓勵更多的青年人參與到預防對婦女的暴力行動中來。2.鼓勵更多男性包括男童的參與，在地區和國家層面支持一系列的預防性活動的開展。

[http：//www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/ending-violence-against-women/prevention#WAGGGS]