The MRF’s Gender and GBV program works to break the gendered cycle of vulnerability and violence for women and girls through strengthening community response and protection units, particularly legal protection phycological and mental health protection and development of prevention models that seeks to transform men and boys to be allies, and empowerment of women and girls.
Preventing and responding to GBV requires dedicated resources and attention. We focus on both specialized and integrated programming to tackle GBV effectively and to catalyze change across sectors. The specialized programming means we have skilled partners and staff able to work with survivors.
Integrating GBV risk reduction means that all MRF staff, from lawyers, to economic inclusion specialists, or protection monitors, are trained to understand gender and how gender roles increase risk to women and girls and people with disabilities. MRF’s goal is to Strengthen GBV prevention, risk mitigation and response.
Pillar 1: Risk Reduction:
These risk reduction activities decrease the risk and threats to girls and women’s safety that can arise from living in an unsafe environment, lacking the economic means to survive, or being isolated from services and information. Program approaches include building women’s and girls’ economic assets; participatory safety mapping in displacement areas; information and awareness raising; and supporting safe spaces for women and girls to forge bonds of solidarity and trust.
Pillar 2: GBV Response:
The services we provide can be lifesaving for girls and women who experience violence. Through case management, psychosocial services, provision of protection services, referrals to health and/or legal protection and women’s spaces, we meet survivors’ immediate health and safety needs and create opportunities for them to take back the control and power that violence seeks to erode. Response services are often a first, but vital step, toward girls’ and women’s leadership and empowerment.
Pillar 3: GBV Prevention:
Prevention programming supports transformative change. Our programs create space for women, girls, men and boys to unlearn norms and behaviors that contribute to or condone violence. The aim is to empower women and girls against GBV and VAW/G; Program activities include to raise awareness about gender based violence as a human rights issue at all levels, and to strengthen community awareness campaigns to change negative attitudes towards violence against women and girls. Through this approach; MRF focus on activities include; Enhancing Capacity of Women to prevent and respond to Gender Based Violence, providing trainings of identified local activist, partners on Gender Based Violence and ways to resolve GBV and VAW/G cases in their local communities, organize dialogue forum sessions on GBV/VAW, literature Review on laws and legal framework, secondary research on GBV cases, advocacy and awareness campaigns on Secondary on GBV/VAW, as well as providing a comprehensive training to all the selected grassroots organizations and individuals on various aspects of GBV/VAW. We also work to educate women and girls on their legal rights with the courage and support to report the perpetrators. This will help end the scourge of gender based violence in communities and in homes.
Pillar 4: Gender-Based Violence Knowledge Centre
The MRF’s GBV Knowledge Centre’s online platform was launched in December 2020 and brings together program and research evidence and Knowledge resources to enable evidence-based action on GBV. It compiles resources and research into a single platform providing information related to GBV and searchable databases that bring together existing data, evidence, and initiatives on GBV. The platform also includes key information and initiatives in provinces and territories, as well as information on resources available for those affected by GBV.
MRF’s goal is to improve women’s knowledge on types and extent of gender based violence, its consequences and their legal rights to fight against such crimes. We are committed to creating learning environments where people of all gender identities, gender expressions and sexual orientations feel empowered and supported. The planned activities include 1. Lead and coordinate the Strategy, 2. Create and manage the GBV Knowledge Centre’s online platform, 3. Develop multifaceted approaches to knowledge mobilization, 4. Report on the Strategy’s progress and results, and 5. Undertake data collection and research in priority areas.
