What works to prevent violence against women and girls? Evidence review of the effectiveness of response mechanisms in preventing violence against women and girls

Abstract

This paper reviews interventions that are designed primarily to respond to violence against women and girls (VAWG), but which have a secondary or parallel primary aim of preventing VAWG or targeting key risk factors that contribute to the perpetration (by men) or experience (by women) of VAWG. The interventions reviewed are within the police and justice sector, the area of crisis intervention, the health sector and the social sector. The list of interventions is not exhaustive, but the paper focuses on the most common intervention areas.

The first half of the paper presents a summary of the evidence by sector. For each, a description of the intervention type; a summary of the types and extent of evidence found; and a synthesis of what the evidence suggests in terms of the effectiveness of the intervention in preventing VAWG are presented. The second half of the paper discusses the findings, presenting an overall summary of the strengths, gaps and limitations in the body of evidence; a synthesis of the overall findings; and a discussion of what this means for the prevention agenda. Finally recommendations in terms of priorities for supporting innovation and conducting research are presented.

Citation

Jewkes, R. What works to prevent violence against women and girls? Evidence review of the effectiveness of response mechanisms in preventing violence against women and girls. Medical Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa (2014) 44 pp.

What works to prevent violence against women and girls? Evidence review of the effectiveness of response mechanisms in preventing violence against women and girls

Published 1 January 2014