Preventing violence against women and girls - what works: evidence summary

Findings – effectiveness of interventions

Effective

Type of Intervention

Interventions focused on modifying unsafe physical school environments

(e.g. Shifting Boundaries; USA)

Evidence of effectiveness in preventing violence

Effective: A number of high-quality evaluations of this intervention indicate that there were reductions in perpetration and victimisation of sexual harassment, peer sexual violence, and adolescent relationship abuse.

Moderating factors^[6] (where available)

Potential facilitators:

• Combining classroom and building-level interventions is more effective in reducing sexual harassment and violence than classroom intervention alone.
• Such programmes could work with younger children (beyond current 11-14 age of participants) to “invoke a true primary prevention effort”.

Promising

Type of Intervention

Attitude and behaviour-focused interventions: bystander programmes in various settings

(e.g. Mentors in Violence Prevention, (MVP); USA and Scotland)

Evidence of effectiveness in preventing violence

Promising: There is strong evidence that bystander programmes that encourage prosocial behaviours among peers are promising in preventing VAWG.

Moderating factors^[6] (where available)

Potential facilitators:

• Embedded within school curricula and cultures
• Longer, cumulative, and sequential programmes that are delivered over time
• Programme well-run with effective training and support for mentors
• Continual programme development to ensure socio-cultural relevance
• Wide range of teaching approaches (including role play)

Potential barriers:

• Mentor workload
• Strain on time
• Existing evaluations predominantly focus on attitudinal change rather than the reduction of violence as an explicit outcome.
• Limited evidence on the long-term effectiveness of these programmes, with more longitudinal research needed.

Type of Intervention

School-based programmes promoting equal relationships

(e.g. Safe Dates, The Fourth R; USA, Canada)

Evidence of effectiveness in preventing violence

Promising: There is evidence that school-based programmes which seek to prevent violence in dating and intimate partner relationships (through developing life skills, improving knowledge of abuse, and challenging social norms and gender stereotypes that increase the risk of violence) are promising.

Of these programmes, there is strong evidence that the Safe Dates programme is effective.

Moderating factors^[6] (where available)

Potential facilitators:

• Content underpinned by evidence-based theory and appropriately tailored to the target audience
• Multiple sessions over time, that aim to change attitudes and norms rather than simply provide information
• Should be incorporated into school policies
• The skills building component is a crucial component to lead to positive outcomes
• For men, programmes delivered in mixed male and female groups are more effective than those presented in all-male groups.

Mixed

Type of Intervention

Education as a sexual violence prevention strategy in higher education settings

Evidence of effectiveness in preventing violence

(e.g. rape prevention and reduction programmes; USA, Scotland)

Mixed: There is mixed evidence about the effectiveness of education as a sexual violence prevention strategy in higher education.

There is limited robust evidence that looks at rape prevention programmes in both the short-term and longitudinally.

Moderating factors^[6] (where available)

Potential facilitators:

• Longer term education programmes with frequent sessions
• Professionally-facilitated education
• Targeted at single-gender audiences
• Offered at various times throughout students’ time in higher education
• Workshop-based
• Part of multiple approaches or holistic approach

Potential barriers:

• Rape prevention programmes have less effect on men at a higher risk of committing rape

Inconclusive

Type of Intervention

Awareness campaigns and edutainment
(Australia, England and Wales and other high income countries)

Domestic Abuse Disclosure Schemes
(England and Wales, New Zealand, Scotland)

Honour-based violence (HBV) interventions

Interventions to prevent Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

Evidence of effectiveness in preventing violence

Inconclusive: Due to a limited body of research it is not yet possible to draw reliable conclusions on the effectiveness of these interventions.