Developing a Multisectoral and Comprehensive Response to Sexual and Gender-based Violence in East and Southern Africa
The Council is working to alleviate sexual and gender-based violence in seven sub-Saharan African countries.
Beginning in 2006, with support from SIDA, the Council initiated a project to strengthen the evidence base for programming to alleviate sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). Through this study, an active network of eight partners in seven African countries, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Senegal, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, has been created. With additional support leveraged from the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEFPAR), another seven partners from Uganda and Rwanda have been added.
The first phase of this project aimed to reduce the incidence of SGBV, including intimate partner/domestic violence, and to meet the medical, psychological, and justice needs of survivors of sexual violence by strengthening a network of organizations across six countries in sub-Saharan Southern Africa and developing a regionally relevant evidence base. The program conducted activities in Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Zambia from August 2006 to December 2009. Efforts focused on improving the medical management of sexual violence, enabling effective criminal justice responses to all cases of SGBV, and reducing levels of violence at the community level.
The Council has widely disseminated emerging lessons from this program, and has used information generated from partners to contribute to national, regional, and international policy dialogues.
In November 2009, the interregional project received a follow-on award to expand the evidence base on comprehensive care for survivors of sexual violence in Sub-Saharan Africa. The goal of this second phase effort (through December 2012) is to reduce the incidence and impact of gender-based violence (GBV) by strengthening the capacity of medical, legal, and justice sectors to care for survivors of GBV. The approach is intended to serve the larger development objectives of preventing HIV transmission and promoting sexual, reproductive, and human rights. In this follow-on effort, this team of partners has worked on three main activities: documenting and testing best practices in GBV service provision, providing South-to-South technical assistance through an expanded network of implementing partners, and influencing policy change and program improvement through broad dissemination to key audiences.
Related project: Africa Regional Sexual and Gender-based Violence Network
Offsite link: Sexual Violence Research Initiative
Rape sentencing study: A review of statutory sentencing provisions for rape, defilement, and sexual assault in East, Central, and Southern Africa (PDF)
Thompson,Jill; Simmonds,Felly Nkweto
Publication date: 2012
Routine screening for intimate partner violence in public health care settings in Kenya: An assessment of acceptability (PDF)
Undie,Chi-Chi; Maternowska,Catherine; Mak'anyengo,Margaret; Birungi,Harriet; Keesbury,Jill; Askew,Ian
APHIA II OR Project in Kenya Technical Report
Publication date: 2012
The Africa Regional Sexual and Gender-based Violence Network Annual Partners Meeting: June 26-27 2012, Mombasa, Kenya -- meeting report (PDF)
Population Council
Publication date: 2012
Comprehensive responses to gender-based violence in low-resource settings: Lessons learned from implementation (PDF)
Keesbury,Jill; Askew,Ian
Publication date: 2010
"I have a problem": Women's help-seeking in Acornhoek, Mpumalanga (PDF)
Vetten,Lisa; Riba Lindiwe Makhunga,Phineas; van Jaarsveld,Francois; Dunseith,Olivia; Mokwena,Lufuno
Policy Brief (no. 1)
Publication date: 2009
Standards required in maintaining the chain of evidence in the context of post rape care services: Findings of a study conducted in Kenya
(PDF)
Ajema,Carolyne; Rogena,Emily; Muchela,Hadley; Bwire,Buluma; Kilonzo,Nduku
Publication date: 2009
Domestic violence, health and HIV: A review on progress made in addressing domestic violence through the HIV & AIDS and STI National Strategic Plan 2007-2011 (PDF)
Meerkotter,Anneke
Policy Brief (no. 3)
Publication date: 2009
From paper to practice: Lessons in the implementation of health and victim empowerment policy applicable to rape survivors (PDF)
Vetten,Lisa; Kim,Julia C.; Ntlemo,Ennica; Mokwena,Lufuno
Policy Brief (no. 2)
Publication date: 2009
Sexual violence: Setting the research agenda for Kenya (PDF)
Maternowska,Catherine; Keesbury,Jill; Kilonzo,Nduku
Publication date: 2009
The Copperbelt model of integrated care for survivors of rape and defilement: Testing the feasibility of police provision of emergency contraceptive pills (PDF)
Keesbury,Jill; Zama,Mary; Shreeniwas,Sudha
Final report
Publication date: 2009
Africa regional sexual and gender-based violence network consultation: Technical exchange and planning meeting (PDF)
Report of a meeting at Roode Vallei Lodge, Pretoria, South Africa, 5-7 March
Publication date: 2008
Sexual and gender based violence in Africa: Key issues for programming (PDF)
Publication date: 2008
Sexual and gender based violence in Africa: Literature review (PDF)
Publication date: 2008
Project Stats
Location: Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Senegal, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Program(s):
Reproductive Health
Topic(s):
Sexual and gender-based violence
Duration: 8/2006 - 12/2012
Population Council researchers:
Ian Askew
Non-Council collaborators:
Ethiopia Ministry of Health
Kenya Ministry of Health
Malawi Ministry of Health
Senegal Ministry of Health
South Africa Ministry of Health
Zambia Ministry of Health
Zimbabwe Ministry of Health
Donors:
Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency
What's New
- "Sometimes, all that stands between a survivor and the help she needs are a few simple questions." The Council’s Chi-Chi Undie discusses intimate partner violence in Africa in a blog post on RH Reality Check. (offsite link)
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