A Theory of Change for Tackling Violence Against ... - ActionAid

42.PrinciplesThe seven key principles underlying theTheory of Change are that:1. Context is critical: successfulinterventions are those that are tailoredand based on rigorous analysis of theparticular factors affecting violenceagainst women and girls in a specificcontext, including setting, form of violenceand population affected by the violence.2. The state has primary responsibility foraction on violence against women andgirls: national governments hold theultimate responsibility for implementinglaws, policies and services aroundviolence against women and girls and canachieve change on violence againstwomen and girls.3. Holistic and multi-sectoral approachesare more likely to have impact:coordinated interventions operating atmultiple levels, across sectors and overmultiple time-frames are more likely toaddress the various aspects of, andtherefore have greater impact on, tacklingviolence against women and girls.5. Backlash is inevitable but manageable:resistance to tackling violence againstwomen and girls, which may includeincreased risk of further violence againstwomen and girls, is inevitable where rootcauses are being addressed but can, andshould, be managed.6. Women’s rights organisations createand sustain change: supporting women’srights organisations, especially thoseworking to tackle violence against womenand girls, to make change and build strongand inclusive social movements is themost effective mechanism for ensuringsustainable change in the lives of womenand girls.7. Empowering women is both the meansand the end: focusing on the rights of,and being accountable to, women andgirls is the most effective way of tacklinggender inequality as the root cause ofviolence against women and girls.4. Social change makes the difference:sustained reduction in violence againstwomen and girls will only occur throughprocesses of significant social change,including in social norms, at all levels.