‘Together for Prevention: A Handbook on Multisectoral National Actional Plans to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls’ launched

"Ending violence against women and girls requires a collective and coordinated effort across sectors at the national level. This Handbook facilitates the design of prevention-focused National Action Plans (NAPs) that transcend fragmented interventions for maximum impact," stated Kalliopi Mingeirou, Chief of the Ending Violence against Women Section at UN Women.

Violence against women and girls has significant and lasting physical, economic, and psychological consequences, which hinder the full participation of women and girls in society.  The need for urgent action to prevent VAWG has long been recognised, as several international and regional human rights instruments call for increased investment and commitment in efforts to prevent VAWG, including the adoption of whole-of-government strategies and NAPs.

A robust Q&A panel discussion was held as part of the Handbook launch event, where government representatives from Fiji, Cambodia, and Timor Leste shared learnings from their national processes to develop NAPs for prevention. A number of common themes emerged from the panel discussion. For example, a holistic and coordinated NAP for prevention requires political commitment and leadership across all government line-ministries. Panelists also shared that a NAP must be developed through genuine consultation with relevant stakeholders and community groups.  

In recent decades, the evidence-base on what works to prevent VAWG has continued to expand, fostering a consensus that violence is preventable and that national coordinated approaches can yield profound and sustained impact.

“Specialised policies can bring together evidence-based prevention strategies across different sectors and settings to address the multiple and intersecting causes of VAWG. This coordinated approach can maximise resources and outcomes. It can also support the mobilisation of political and resource commitments for violence prevention,” said Dr. Emma Fulu, Founder and Executive Director of The Equality Institute.

The Handbook was co-developed by UN Women and The Equality Institute in a joint effort to support governments and partners to advance national policy agenda to prevent VAWG. This initiative was supported by Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

What can you expect from the Handbook?

•          A step-by-step practical guide to support NAP preparation, development, and implementation.
•          Checklists for each stage of development and implementation.
•          Practical examples and tips from recent country NAP development processes.
•          Example actions and supporting resources categorised by government departments.
•          User-friendly templates to support specific steps in NAP development and implementation.
•          Useful resources, including a bibliography setting out the prevention evidence-base and relevant international and regional frameworks.

Learn more about the handbook on our Projects & Resources page or download it below.