Programmes should be designed based on the existing knowledge of “what works” (or doesn’t) to respond to and prevent violence against women and girls. Such information about the evidence-base may be drawn from formal evaluations and assessments, research and studies, expert consensus and recommendations, shared practitioner experiences and the feedback of survivors. Implementing activities without considering existing evidence wastes resources, reduces the effectiveness of programmes and, at worst, may harm women and girls.
Examining the few resources which provide information on promising practices, a meta-analysis or cross-country global review of the evidence-base:
Addressing Gender-Based Violence:A Critical Review of Interventions (Morrison, Ellsberg and Bott/World Bank, 2007). Available for purchase from Oxford Journals.
Preventing and Responding to Gender-based Violence in Middle and Low-income Countries: A Global Review and Analysis (Morrison, Ellsberg and Bott/World Bank, 2005). Available in English.
Addressing Gender-Based Violence in the Latin American and Caribbean Region: A Critical Review of Interventions (Morrison, Ellsberg and Bott/World Bank, 2004). Available in English.
Intervening with Perpetrators of Intimate Partner Violence: A Global Perspective (WHO, 2003). Available in English.
Evaluating batterer counseling programs: A difficult task showing some effects and implications (Gondolf, 2004). Available in English.
Violence Prevention: the Evidence (WHO, 2009). Available in English.
Primary prevention of intimate-partner violence and sexual violence: Background paper for WHO expert meeting (WHO, 2007). Available in English.
Bringing Security Home: Combating Violence Against Women in the OSCE Region. A Compilation of Good Practices (Organization for Security and Economic Co-operation in Europe, 2009). Available in English.
Good Practices in Combating and Eliminating Violence Against Women (United Nations Division for the Advancement of Women, 2005). Available in English.
End Violence Against Women: Information and Resources (Johns Hopkins University Center for Communications Programs)
MINCAVA Electronic Clearinghouse (Minnesota Center Against Violence & Abuse)
GBV Bibliography (Reproductive Health Response Consortium)
Stop Violence against Women Website (Advocates for Human Rights)
The Bora Laskin Law Library: Women’s Human Rights Resource Programme
The WHO Violence Prevention Alliance (World Health Organization)
GBV Prevention Network (Raising Voices)
Men, masculinities and gender politics(compiled by Michael Flood)
Programmes and interventions should also document their findings and contribute to the knowledge base to augment the limited evidence on addressing violence against women and girls.
Toward contributing to the global knowledge base, programmes should give attention to:
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