PREVENTION IN ACTIONLessons Learned and a Model for

Social Mobilization to Address Violence Against Women in South Africa

Carolyn Kruger, Ph.D.CORE Group Spring Meeting 2014

May 7, 2014

• Program led by Project Concern International (PCI) and the KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape networks on VAW

• A baseline survey in 2009 found that the vast majority of people rejected attitudinal statements supporting VAW, but the problem continued as a product of silence, fear and inaction

• The direction of the program was reoriented from addressing ‘social norms’ to focus on transforming inaction into action to address VAW at community level

Prevention in ActionProgram Design

Emerging program design• The new logo and Prevention in Action slogan formed the basis for

a new vision to act in response to VAW

• Agreements to support the program were established with sector partners including government departments, police services, faith-based organizations, community and non-governmental organizations

• A core group called Community Engagers (CEs) were trained in VAW prevention

• CEs then identified opinion leaders in communities who were drawn in as volunteers to mobilize action in response to VAW

• This group of Community Influencers (CIs) received training and a toolkit of communication resources including badges, stickers, posters and guidelines on VAW prevention

• Community-level response was strengthened through CIs establishing Prevention in Action Groups (PAGs)

Forms of violence addressed

“The CI helped a girl in her area who was being beaten by her boyfriend. She phoned the police who responded and arrested the man. He was released the following day. The group felt that his actions still need to be condemned. They introduced themselves as PIA members and their role as a PIA Group in the community. They told the man that his actions towards his partner will not be tolerated and next time he beat his wife, they would make sure he stays behind bars. The embarrassed man apologized and promised not to ever lay a hand on his partner again, and he hasn’t.” (PIA Member, Khayelitsha).

Male to Female Partner

Male to Female Sexual Violence

Other Violence

Parent or Carer to Child

Female to Male Partner

Child to Parent or Grandparent

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

59%

9%

15%

7%

5%

5%

Approaches to prevention

“This man always beats his wife and sometimes locks her outside at night. After this had happened for a while the CI organized her PAG members to come and talk to this man about his conduct. He welcomed the group and listened to what they were saying as well as being informed about PIA. He confessed that abuse is his problem. The CI then arranged that he sees counselors at FAMSA, which he did and their situation is much better than before” (PIA Member, eThekwini District)

Police or Legal involvement

Discussion with Victim and Perpetrator

Discussion with Victim Only

Referral for Counselling / Support

Discussion with Perpetrator Only

Interruption of violence

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%

24%

23%

20%

15%

11%

8%

Outcomes of actions

• Most actions lead to resolution of conflict

• About a quarter of responses involve police involvement or legal processes

Resolution of Conflict

Arrest, Interdict or Protection Order

Resolution through Counselling

Outcome Unclear

Improved Community Safety

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

48%

24%

14%

9%

6%

Violence Free Zones

• Working with PCI and the two networks, the idea emerged for Violence Free Zones in geographically defined sub-areas within communities

• Supported with a Violence Free Zone toolkit, communities are demarcated with signs, symbols and colors of PIA, public spaces are cleaned up, and household visits are conducted

• Residents are encouraged to sign manifesto’s of commitment to ending violence in their communities and place stickers on their doors to symbolize that their homes are violence free

IMPLEMENTATION TEAM • PCI NETWORKS

SECTORPARTNERSHIPS

• Community Engagers (CEs)

• Community Influencers (CIs) identified by CEs

• Prevention in Action Groups (PAGs)

TRAINING & CAPACITY

DEVELOPMENT

COMMUNICATION ACTIVITIES / RESOURCES

RESEARCH, MONITORING &

EVALUATION

PREVENTION IN ACTION COMMITTEES (PACs)VIOLENCE FREE ZONES

• Multi-session training of CEs

• CEs train CIs

• CIs share concepts and strategies with PAGs

• Capacity support to partners

• Logo, slogan, core materials

• Branded items for PIA members

• Amplification of actions through booklets, events, news media and social media

• Baseline and formative research

• Participatory research

• Monitoring

• Evaluation

PIA Intervention Model

Empowerment & social change

COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION FOR VAW PREVENTION

INTERNALIZED MEANING

I can act to prevent VAW

ACTIONS & COMMITMENTS

I am committed to taking action to prevent VAWI have taken action to prevent VAW

NEW LANGUAGE AND SOCIAL PRACTICES TO PREVENT VAW

Change concepts made visible and sustained through symbols, language and actions

CONCEPTUAL RESONANCE

I understand the PIA concept

SITUATIONAL RESONANCE

The PIA concept is relevant to my situation

SOCIAL RESONANCE

The PIA concept is relevant to my community

EMPO

WERM

ENT AND SOCIAL CHANG

E

Conclusions and implications

• The PIA program’s multi-phase adaptive and experimental approach has led to a model for community mobilization to address violence against women

• A strong emphasis on understanding and drawing in the lived experiences and leadership perspectives of PIA participants and community members strengthened model development

• Partnerships with sector organizationsprovided support to program development.

• Partnerships led by PIA Committees have reshaped community values and led to sustainable approaches to VAW prevention

• The emerging model for community mobilization has potential for replication in other communities facing pressing challenges of VAW andother forms of violence