Background:

The GBV Prevention Network was initiated during a Regional Dialogue hosted by Raising Voices and UN Habitat’s Safer Cities Programme in September 2003. Leaders from 30 NGOs in 11 different countries in the Horn, East and Southern Africa working on gender based violence (GBV) prevention participated in the meeting to share strategies, challenges and lessons learned in the field of GBV prevention. During this meeting participants highlighted the lack of connection, sharing, learning from and networking with other like-minded organizations. As a result, the GBV Prevention Network was born. Currently, the Network has more than 130 members from 18 countries.

Vision and objectives:

The GBV Prevention Network seeks to become a vibrant space in the Horn, East and Southern Africa for innovation, expertise, experience and exchange on GBV prevention.
We recognize that girls and women are most affected by GBV and therefore they are the core focus and priority in our work. We believe that primary prevention of violence against girls and women is critical. We hold a feminist analysis of GBV, meaning that we recognize that violence against women happens because of the imbalance of power in relationships and we are committed to programming that addresses this power inequity. We believe that men have an important role to play in creating violence-free relationships, families and communities. We recognize that in order for violence against women to end, fundamental changes in long-held attitudes and beliefs about the value of women and the roles they are able to play need to change.

The GBV Prevention Network also aims to achieve four very specific objectives.

To provide member organizations with relevant information about and access to resources on violence prevention;
To build solidarity between organizations working on violence;
To strengthen capacity of members on critical issues and methodologies; and,
To advocate for increased interest and investment for gender-based violence prevention in the regions.