2. LANCET SERIES ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS Prevention of violence against women and girls: lessons from practice Lori Michau Raising Voices, Kampala, Uganda

3. Background VAWG is recognized as important health, development and rights issue Prevention gaining importance; recognize need to stop violence before it starts Common limitations of VAWG prevention: Exclusive focus on awareness-raising Action without collective analysis Siloed efforts Focus on individual change

4. Aim & process Aim: To present the lessons learned from practice to identify key principles for effective VAWG prevention Process: Drawing on experience, author’s published papers/approaches, literature review of the field.

5. Understanding the problem

6. 6 Key Principles of VAWG Prevention 1. Use an intersectional gender-power analysis Feminist analysis of VAWG 2. Work across the ecological model Change doesn’t happen in isolation -- interdependence 3. Is sustained, multi-sectoral and coordinated Intensity, frequency and source matter – systemic change

7. 6 Key Principles of VAWG Prevention 4. Informed by theory and evidence Programs with clarity on process and expectations of change, learn from other’s experiences 5. Inspires personal and collective reflection Move beyond information to critical analysis of consequences of VAWG 6. Fosters aspiration and activism Highlight benefits, foster a spirit of activism for meaningful change that ‘sticks’ and impacts on other development outcomes

8. Envisioning change

9. Take action Prioritize prevention – changing social norms Experiment, innovate, learn Integrate and implement the 6 principles of effective VAWG prevention Coordinate & collaborate across sectors and fields Sustain investment and effort

10. Acknowledgements We thank the staff and community partners of Raising Voices and the Center for Domestic Violence Prevention, Puntos de Encuentro and Breakthrough who make all the learning possible. Lara Fergus for her assistance on the Australian Case study. Jennifer Wagman and other anonymous reviewers whose comments strengthened the paper. Charlotte Watts, Claudia Garcia Moreno and Cathy Zimmerman for inviting us to contribute an activist voice to this series.

11. Violence is preventable