WHO & UN Women Launch RESPECT – Framework To Prevent Violence Against Women

RESPECT, a new framework guiding policymakers on programmes and policies that can prevent violence against women, was launched this week by the World Health Organization, UN Women and eleven other partners.

About 1 in 3, or 35 percent of women worldwide have experienced either physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime, according to WHO estimates. This action-oriented framework aims to guide interventions and programmes to prevent violence against women, WHO said in a press announcement.

Seven strategies are summarized by the acronym R.E.S.P.E.C.T., with each letter representing one element of the strategy, as follows:

R – Relationship skills strengthened.

E – Empowerment of women.

S – Services ensured – including health, police, legal, and social services.

P – Poverty reduced.

E – Environments, including schools public spaces and work, made safe.

C – Child and adolescent abuse prevented, while nurturing family relationships.

T – Transformed attitudes, beliefs and norms about gender and gender equality.

The framework also provides blueprints to decision-makers for building political commitments, investing in the work of women’s organisations, strengthening laws and policies to address violence and promote gender equality, and allocating resources to programmes that further address these issues. See here for more information about the initiative.

Image Credits: WHO.

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