Addressing Gender-based Violence in the Latin American and Caribbean Region

Book excerpt: The authors examine good practice approaches in justice, health, education, and multisectoral approaches. In each sector, they identify good practices for: (1) law and policies; (2) institutional reforms; (3) community-level interventions; and (4) individual behavior change strategies. The authors offer conclusions and recommendations for future work on gender-based violence: It is essential to focus on the prevention of GBV, not just on services for its survivors. Prevention is best achieved by empowering women and reducing gender disparities, and by changing norms and attitudes which foster violence. Interventions should employ a multisectoral approach and work at different levels--individual, community, institutional, and laws and policies. GBV may be common in the Latin America and the Caribbean region, but there are promising approaches available to begin working toward its elimination"--Abstract.