- This topic has 44 replies, 44 voices, and was last updated 4 days, 20 hours ago by
.
-
Posts
-
The persistence of violence against women in India is rooted in the presence of deeply ingrained systems of sexism and patriarchy within Indian society. From a young age, girls are denied access to education and health care compared to boys. India has one of the highest numbers of early marriages, given that, girls have limited access to adolescent reproductive and sexual health. This also impacts the earning capability of women eventually. Most practices are endorsed by community influencers and long-rooted customs. Added to them are also allied causes like poverty, lack of information, and access to redressal mechanisms.
In light of this context, my work involves collaborating with communities to facilitate behavioral change and establish support systems for women and girls who experience violence. Conducting vulnerability assessments plays a crucial role in offering assistance and crafting tailored prevention strategies at both the community and individual levels.In emergency context, all the violence prevention strategies apply that is Couples’ programmes who are identified and trained as role models, economic transfers through cash transfers to economically empower women and girls, community mobilization to deliberately raise awareness on power and gender norms, addressing harmful alcohol abuse that is rampant among youths and elderly due to stress, parenting programmes especially on 22 family care practices and celebrating family models, economic and social empowerment of the vulnerable women and girls, policy and structural changes especially on laws regarding perpetrators and survivors, media and edutainment-group education on VAW through MDDs etc,
Generally, the above strategies can target intervention areas like advocacy and awareness raising, education for building a culture of non-violence, trainings, resource development, direct service provision to victim-survivors and perpetrators, networking and community mobilization, direct intervention to help victim-survivors rebuild their lives, legal reforms, monitoring interventions and measures, data collection and analysis, early identification of ‘at risk’ families, communities, groups, and individuals.
In my community couples programs, parenting programs and adolescent and young people engagement programs would be appropriate strategies towards reducing violence which is mainly because the community has accepted that violence and discipline are synonymous. There is need to change community beliefs around violence and acceptance of violence against women and children as part of community culture.
Working within a pastoralist community and a patriarchal society presents unique challenges when it comes to violence prevention. To address these challenges, a comprehensive and context-specific approach is necessary. The following I would say are some promising violence prevention strategies considering the risk factors in my setting:
1. Advocating for and implement policies that address gender-based violence (GBV)
2. Engaging community leaders and influencers to endorse and model non-violent behaviours
3. Promoting education and awareness about the economic benefits of gender equality and the negative impact of violence on the community’s well-being.
4. Integrating teachings on gender equality and non-violence into parenting education to break the cycle of violence from one generation to the next.
5. Utilize media, including radio and community newsletters, to disseminate messages about non-violence, gender equality, and available support services
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.