Importance of community mobilization

activity. UNHCR had donated sewing machines to Hope Restoration South Sudan, which the women they work with used to make and sell facemasks during the pandemic.

Successful GBV prevention activities must take a whole of community approach where men, women, boys and girls are engaged in planned GBV prevention activities. For example, in Afghanistan, the LEVAW mandated the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Haq and Religious Affairs and Ministry of Women’s Affairs with the responsibility of providing awareness on violence, causes of violence, impact of violence on public health and families and rights of victims and fundamental rights of citizens including harmful social and gender norms and laws. However, most of these awareness programmes were not designed to be gender-responsive and were not provided by gender experts. Additionally, women who were becoming aware of their rights and trying to negotiate their rights with men faced resistance, and some faced increased risk of violence from men: In PNG, strong community networks have helped prevent some of the most extreme forms of GBV. When groups of people form networks, it is more likely that a sorcery accusation will not turn violent. For example, when police work with a village court magistrate, pastor, or community leader, there is hope that they can at least stop the violence and rescue the accused. As one key informant shared:

“Many workshops and campaigns are held for women to know their right[s] in last years. But the problem was that only women were trained, and men were not. When men are not aware of women’s rights, they will commit violence against women. We need to provide this awareness to both men and women. Due to the continued war in Afghanistan many internal and external groups direct men to extremism which increases violence against women.”

- Key informant from the former Afghan Government

“There are places where women are protected, where men are protected, where people speak out. It’s all about networks.”

– Key informant working as a researcher in PNG