Tackling gender-based violence

Key information

• Organisation: Child Rights, Empowerment and Development Organization (CEDO)
• Country: Uganda
• Region: East Africa
• Stage of innovation: Stage 3: Pilot
• Start date: October 2020
• End date: June 2021
• Type of innovation: New combination of existing services
• Budget: 54,000 USD
• Funder: SIDA through the Swedish Embassy in Kampala, managed by Frontline AIDS

Summary of intervention

Rates of gender-based violence (GBV) are high for young people in Uganda — particularly adolescent girls and young women, out-of-school youth and young people from key populations. They often don’t report incidents or have access to legal systems or referrals for specialised GBV support.

Under the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Umbrella Programme, CEDO is increasing access to comprehensive and well-coordinated GBV support and response services in communities and health facilities — increasing awareness and enhancing systems for GBV prevention. Trained health care workers are now integrating GBV into HIV risk-reduction counselling, including HIV and STI screening, and providing post-exposure prophylaxis. Community gatekeepers are sensitising communities and championing comprehensive GBV care through community dialogues between police and child and family protection units. Together with information, education and communication materials, these GBV sensitisation campaigns are providing vital information on the impact of GBV and signposting communities to services. Toll-free helplines now link GBV survivors to instant psychosocial first aid counselling, as well as referrals to SRHR and legal services. including home-based counselling interventions.

Records from health facilities, police and communities indicate that, through this innovation, GBV survivors are increasingly reporting incidences of GBV and access to justice has improved. It has strengthened referral pathways from village to district level and promoted conflict resolutions in families.

learnings

Interventions such as toll-free helplines and a 24-Hour WhatsApp chatline for GBV survivors, better-equipped health care providers who are integrating GBV and HIV into clinical services, and broader community awareness of GBV have all increased access to the five essential GBV services for AGYW and key populations: psychological first aid, emergency contraception, post-exposure prophylaxis for sexually transmitted infections, and vaccination against tetanus and hepatitis B, as well as referrals to legal support services.

For more information on the SRHR Umbrella Grant, click HERE.