The Violence Against Women (VAW) Baseline Study is a Southern African research project aimed at measuring the extent, drivers, effect, cost, prevention, protection, programmes and participation in the fight to rid our region of this scourge. The study conducted to date in Botswana, Mauritius, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and South African provinces of Gauteng, Limpopo, Western Cape and Kwazulu Natal, takes place against the backdrop of the Southern African Protocol on Gender and Development that aimed to halve GBV by 2015, and now aims to end gender violence by 2030. The question that arises is how governments will know if this target is being achieved if baselines are unavailable. To measure the efficacy of both government and civil society programmes, there is need to have baseline data on the extent and effects of VAW, as well as the manner in which governments and civil support organisations respond to GBV.
GL in partnership with government and local civil society partners, conducted this research to provide evidence for the adoption and strengthening of National Action Plans to end GBV. Click here for the findings of the GBV Indicators Research Project in Botswana, Lesotho, Mauritius, Zimbabwe, four provinces of South Africa and four districts of Zambia. The research is currently taking place in Seychelles. Botswana has commissioned follow up research to the baseline study.
Prevention of Gender Based Violence – What works?
The National Prosecution Authority (NPA) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) commissioned GL to carry out a mapping exercise of promising violence prevention models in South Africa. Gender Links analysed the case studies using the ecological model:
- Individual and family: – Empowerment of women, role of men; households
- Community: – Schools, traditional leadership, religious leadership
- Society: – Political leadership, sports, media
While the case studies reflect a bouquet of innovative strategies and their impact, it is quite evident that there are a number of arenas for action which have potential to create impact on ending gender violence that are missing. If initiatives in these areas are there it is either they are not documented or are at a very small scale. GL features prevention programmes that seek to empower women.
