FOS FEMINISTA

Published purpose

This project seeks to prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). It does so by scaling up comprehensive sexual education programs for children and adolescents. The training enables them to identify violence and sexual abuse. It also helps them engage with health care providers as gender equality champions and active collaborators in the fight to eradicate SGBV. The project facilitates SGBV prevention through evidence-based intervention in schools, health centres and communities. It increases access to services and resources by ensuring strengthened health responses to SGBV by local partners and partner clinics. In addition, the project aims to influence laws and policies by increasing government sensitivity and willingness to prioritize SGBV prevention and response in their political agendas. Finally, it seeks to improve local capacities to hold governments accountable for their legal and political commitments to prevent and respond effectively to SGBV. Project activities include: (1) implementing comprehensive sexuality education curricula that aims to positively change gender inequalities; (2) training local partners and allied civil society organizations on incorporating approaches, in programming and SGBV prevention, that address gender inequalities; (3) training community leaders to identify and question harmful gender norms; (4) providing SGBV clinical services such as identification, first-line support, psychological counselling and robust referrals to women, girls, and those who have other gender identities; (5) training health care staff to examine, challenge and transform the causes of gender inequality rooted in sexual and reproductive health services. This includes SGBV prevention and response and male engagement; (6) developing strategic communications and social mobilization plans for the public to demand the government prevent and respond to SGBV; and (7) creating and disseminating advocacy reports with recommendations on how to enhance public policies on SGBV prevention and response.