The United States Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence Globally

The purpose of the United States Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence Globally is to strengthen a government-wide approach that identifies, coordinates, integrates, and leverages current efforts and resources to address gender-based violence more holistically and effectively. It sets forth concrete goals and actions to be implemented and monitored over the next three years, with an evaluation of progress made at the end of the forthcoming three years to chart a course forward. The strategy serves as a call to action for all Federal departments and agencies to strengthen their collective resolve to prevent and respond effectively and significantly to gender-based violence around the world.

Gender Inequality and Early Childhood Development: A Review of the Linkages

This report examines the impact of gender inequality and discrimination on the survival, healthy growth, and early years’ development of girls and boys and the rationale for investing in gender-transformative early childhood programming in order to break the cycle of gender discrimination, promote the rights of girls and boys and advance gender equality. It is during their first years that girls and boys learn gendered attitudes and expectations - from parents, caregivers, other family members, and teachers - about how girls and boys/women and men should behave, their social worth, and what their role is in society. The research shows, in many countries and communities, right from the earliest age, boys are prepared for their future roles as providers and protectors, and girls as mothers and caregivers. Learning these rules and expectations in terms of behaviors and roles can be limiting for all children – but is likely to be particularly limiting for girls. 

Promoting Men’s Engagement as Equitable, Non-violent Fathers and Caregivers in Children’s Early Lives: Programmatic reflections and recommendations

The call for increased attention to promoting male engagement was founded upon the evidence of what young children’s brains need and expect in order to develop, especially in their first three years. In most Low and Middle Income Countries – as well as many High Income Countries – women continue to shoulder the majority of the burden of care work. More needs to be done to promote men’s shared responsibilities for care work and childrearing, recognizing the emerging evidence around the positive impact this can have for their children’s physical and mental health and wellbeing, learning and development, and inter-personal relationships into adulthood (Levtov et al., 2015). While men’s engagement in early childhood development is gaining policy momentum, operationalization of these objectives will require consideration of the various barriers and obstacles that exist to men’s engagement in the care and development of young children, in different contexts.

What Works to Prevent Sexual Violence Against Children Evidence Review

Until recently, very little was known about the true nature of sexual violence against children. However, over the last two decades, a growing number of research efforts to document and understand the dynamics and prevalence of sexual violence against children have started to shed light on its magnitude and consequences. Historically, a great deal of the research has focused on high-income countries (HICs), but significant progress has been made in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). The evidence emerging demonstrates that prevention interventions can make a difference. In this review, interventions were classified as “effective,” “promising,” “prudent,” “conflicting,” “no effect,” and “harmful” based on the following criteria, adapted from the INSPIRE framework. This evidence review is intended to be a knowledge springboard for further work to understand and prevent sexual violence against children. The primary audience includes decision-makers, advocates, and program implementers to help guide efforts and investments in policies and programs that have the potential to prevent and end sexual violence against children.  

Beyond Access: Toolkit for Integrating Gender-based Violence Prevention and Response into Education Projects

This toolkit offers guiding principles, evidence-based approaches, and resources to guide USAID technical and program officers working on education to integrate gender-based violence (GBV) prevention and response throughout the USAID program cycle, with particular focus on project design and implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. This toolkit was designed to align with the USAID Education Strategy and the United States government policies related to GBV prevention and response, gender equality, women’s empowerment, and youth. While this toolkit focuses on education projects, and includes school-related gender-based violence, approaches to preventing and responding to GBV should be holistic, multi-sectoral (e.g., police, clinics, communities), cross-sectoral (e.g., health, democracy and governance), and engage various stakeholders in order to achieve sustained and effective development results. By deliberately integrating GBV prevention and response into education project design and implementation, monitoring, and evaluation, USAID will increase learning opportunities and quality education for all and achieve its educational goals.