Advanced Search

Adapting the SASA! Community mobilisation approach: Spotlight Initiative has adapted and implemented the SASA! Approach in Uganda and Haiti, originally developed by the Ugandan women’s rights organisation Raising Voices. SASA! is rooted in a feminist understanding of men’s power over women as a root cause of VAWG and works to balance power in relationships and communities. It trains and supports community activists to facilitate informal activities - such as dialogues, role plays, discussions of posters - with community members in their homes, workplaces, places of worship, and areas of…

A key focus of Spotlight Initiative's work is to strengthen the institutional environment for ending VAWG. In different countries, programmes have variously worked with national government, the private sector, media and education institutions both to reduce violence within these institutions, ensure they implement commitments to end VAWG and to foster a wider enabling environment for prevention.In addition to reforming and strengthening laws and policies, Spotlight Initiative has worked with government bodies to strengthen institutional capacity to implement EVAWG commitments. This has…

Spotlight Initiative has integrated women’s economic empowerment (WEE) activities as part of a comprehensive approach to ending violence against women and girls in several countries. It has implemented economic empowerment initiatives with survivors to support them to recover and rebuild their lives after experiencing violence. It has also developed specific economic empowerment programmes to target those involved in conducting harmful practices like FGM to support a change in livelihood strategy as a means to disincentivise their performance of these practices (see case study on Liberia). In…

Spotlight Initiative has implemented a range of interventions in different countries to promote healthy relationships between couples, parents and children, other family members and peers. Programmes are designed to recognise that there are links between direct experiences or witnessing of violence in childhood, and the increased likelihood of intimate partner violence (IPV) victimisation or perpetration. The impact of intergenerational transmission may be exacerbated in families affected by conflict and displacement.Healthy relationships in families: Spotlight Initiative programmes have…

Spotlight Initiative programmes have supported a number of different social empowerment interventions with women and girls, and sometimes with boys, men and other family members. Approaches and learning include:Safe spaces: These spaces can create opportunities for participants to learn about their rights, build awareness on sexual and reproductive health, healthy relationships and GBV, as well as gain new life skills and vocational skills. See case study below on Malawi.Social networks: Spotlight Initiative programmes in many countries, including in Malawi, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uganda…

Spotlight Initiative develops comprehensive VAWG prevention programmes that work across sectors and levels to address the root cause and drivers of VAWG, including the norms, attitudes and beliefs that sustain violence. Across programmes, this has included:An overall strategy that combines a dedicated pillar on VAWG prevention, as well as a focus on embedding prevention strategies across all other pillars of work, including legal reform and institutional strengthening. Read more about the pillars of Spotlight InitiativeSelecting and designing strategies tailored to context. By conducting in…

Spotlight Initiative systematically addresses both the drivers of gender-based violence - through prevention work - and its impacts, through response work. Key approaches and learnings include:Prevention programmes in each context should be informed by an analysis of the drivers of the specific form of violence. Spotlight Initiative addresses various forms of VAWG, including intimate partner violence, sexual exploitation and abuse, child marriage and harmful traditional practices. Whilst all of these forms of violence are driven by gender inequalities, the risk factors can vary by type of…

Prevention is one of the key pillars of Spotlight Initiative. This pillar focuses on addressing the root causes of violence against women and girls, including discrimination against women and girls and gender inequality in the distribution of power/resources. Approaches and learnings from this work include:Focusing on social norm change is a catalyst for change across multiple areas needed to end VAWG. Changing attitudes, behaviours, and social norms takes time, so Spotlight Initiative programming applies a holistic and whole of society approach across the socio-ecological model to mobilise…

Spotlight Initiative places substantive focus on the role of social norm change across multiple pillars of its work. Programmes are designed with the recognition that social norms shape everyday expectations about people's behaviours and are embedded in formal institutions, laws and policies. Key approaches for understanding and transforming social norms include:Supporting women’s movements and CSOs with the skills and resources to build local, national and global movements for social change is an effective and sustainable ways of transforming social norms.Using a holistic approach to…

Spotlight Initiative has supported multiple campaigns focused on ending VAWG across its programmes. Approaches and lessons include:Working with celebrities and thought leaders to bring VAWG to public attention. For example, in Nigeria and Argentina, programmes worked with sports stars in football to denounce VAWG and promote respectful behaviour towards women. Use social media campaigns to challenge attitudes and social norms around VAWG. For example, Spotlight Initiative partnered with UN Global Advocates and the Social Good Club to work with social media influencers to develop a Culture…