Gender-based Violence - Raising Voices

BackgroundGBV prevention programmes are beginning to emerge throughout the Horn, East and Southern Africa.They represent a growing body of experience and show that through prevention efforts aimed atchanging the attitudes and behaviours perpetuating GBV, homes and communities can become saferplaces for everyone. Raising Voices and UN-Habitat’s, Safer Cities Programme developed a threephasedproject to begin to build momentum for prevention of GBV in the Horn, East and SouthernAfrica. The process is an attempt to forge linkages between groups doing prevention work, to shareexperiences, and build on the successes and challenges experienced in the field.The first phase was an extensive field review of organizations, individuals, and Local Authorities in theHorn, East and Southern Africa working to prevent gender-based violence (GBV). A survey wasdeveloped and sent to more than 400 groups addressing GBV as well as publicized widely on theinternet (see appendix one). Over one hundred groups completed written surveys that described theirobjectives, key programme areas, and lessons learned in GBV prevention efforts. They all expresseda keen interest in becoming part of a supra-regional GBV prevention network, were included in theregional database, and are now members of the GBV prevention network (www.preventgbvafrica.org).The second phase involved a Regional Dialogue that brought together innovative practitioners whoare implementing promising approaches to GBV prevention in their communities (see appendix twoand three). Submissions of all groups participating in the field review process were analyzed andpromising programmes were selected to participate. Selection was based on the degree of innovationand an emphasis on primary prevention. Efforts were made to ensure geographic and programmaticdiversity. This forum was the first of its kind in the region for bringing together NGO leaders and LocalAuthorities to discuss the current state of prevention, to explore key themes and challenges, and todevelop strategies for moving forward to implement stronger GBV prevention programmes.The third phase is the development of this publication that captures the substantive themes that arosein the Regional Dialogue. It elaborates on GBV prevention as a strategy to combat the problem, andhighlights current prevention programmes in the region. Participants of the Dialogue set forth therecommendations for preventing GBV in the region and developed the Kampala Declaration, anadvocacy tool for GBV Prevention in Africa (see appendix four).Collectively, we hope this process represents the thinking and strategies of a wide range of organizations,leading the way in GBV prevention in the Horn, East and Southern Africa.Preventing Gender-based Violence: A Regional Dialogue, Raising Voices and Safer Cities Programme1