Prevention and response

There is growing evidence on what works to prevent violence against women, based on well-designed evaluations.  In 2019, WHO and UN Women with endorsement from 12 other UN and bilateral agencies published RESPECT women – a framework for preventing violence against women aimed at policy makers. 

Each letter of RESPECT stands for one of seven strategies:

Relationship skills strengthening;

Empowerment of women;

Services ensured;

Poverty reduced;

Enabling environments (schools, workplaces, public spaces) created;

Child and adolescent abuse prevented; and

Transformed attitudes, beliefs and norms.

To achieve lasting change, it is important to enact and enforce legislation and develop and implement policies that promote gender equality; allocate resources to prevention and response; and invest in women’s rights organizations.