Why GBV Prevention & Response Matters in Dzaleka

In our community, gender-based violence is not only an individual concern; it can affect the safety, wellbeing, and future of entire families. Women and girls may face violence, exploitation, abuse, and other protection risks, while limited access to services and economic opportunities can make it harder for those affected to seek support.

At CRS, we believe prevention starts with awareness, dignity, protection, and community responsibility. We work with women, girls, families, young people, and community structures to prevent GBV, strengthen protection, and connect those affected with appropriate support.

We want to contribute to a safer Dzaleka where women and girls are respected, protected, heard, and able to live with dignity and hope.

The GBV Challenges We See

Women and girls in vulnerable communities can face multiple and overlapping risks that affect their safety, dignity, and ability to build secure futures. In Dzaleka, these challenges can be closely connected to poverty, displacement, limited opportunities, and barriers to accessing support.

CHALLENGE
VIOLENCE & ABUSE:  Women and girls experience physical, sexual, emotional, and other forms of violence and abuse.
EXPLOITATIONE Economic hardship and vulnerability can expose women and girls to sexual, economic, and other forms of exploitation.
EARLY & FORCED MARRIAGE Some girls face pressure or circumstances that lead to marriage before they are ready, limiting their education and future opportunities.
ECONOMIC VULNERABILITY Limited income and livelihood opportunities can increase dependence and make it harder for women and girls to leave unsafe situations.
LIMITED ACCESS TO SUPPORT Distance, limited services, lack of information, and other barriers can make it difficult to access protection and assistance.
STIGMA & FEAR OF REPORTING Fear, stigma, shame, and concerns about consequences can prevent survivors from reporting violence or seeking support.

These challenges are interconnected, which is why prevention, protection, empowerment, and access to appropriate support are all important parts of our GBV work..

What We Do

At CRS, we focus on preventing gender-based violence, strengthening protection, and ensuring that women and girls affected by violence can access appropriate support. We work with communities to address the factors that increase vulnerability and encourage people to speak openly about safety, dignity, rights, and protection.

AREA OF SUPPORT
GBV PREVENTION & AWARENESS We raise awareness about GBV, its risks, prevention, and the rights of women and girls.
SUPPORT & PROTECTION We provide basic support and help connect those affected by violence with appropriate services.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT We work with families, community leaders, young people, and local structures to promote prevention and safer communities.
EMPOWERMENT We support women and girls to strengthen their confidence, knowledge, skills, and ability to make informed decisions.
REFERRAL & FOLLOW-UP Where specialized assistance is needed, we help connect individuals with appropriate protection, health, psychosocial, and other services and, where possible, follow up on their needs.

GBV Prevention & Awareness

We believe that preventing gender-based violence starts with creating awareness and changing attitudes that can allow violence, abuse, and exploitation to continue. In Dzaleka, we engage women, girls, young people, families, and community members in conversations about GBV, safety, rights, dignity, and prevention.

WHAT WE FOCUS ON
UNDERSTANDING GBV We help community members understand different forms of GBV and how they can affect individuals, families, and communities.
KNOWING RIGHTS & PROTECTION We share information that helps women and girls understand their rights and recognize situations that may place them at risk.
CHALLENGING HARMFUL ATTITUDES We encourage respectful relationships and community attitudes that reject violence, abuse, exploitation, and discrimination.
SPEAKING UP & SEEKING HELP We encourage people to report protection concerns and seek appropriate support rather than facing them alone.
ENGAGING YOUNG PEOPLE We help young people understand healthy relationships, respect, personal safety, and their role in preventing violence.

Support for Survivors

When someone experiences gender-based violence, they should not have to face the situation alone. We believe survivors deserve to be treated with dignity, listened to without judgment, and connected to appropriate support.

How We Support

GBV SUPPORT APPROACH
LISTEN We create safe and respectful spaces where affected individuals can share their concerns without judgment.
RESPOND We provide appropriate initial support and help identify immediate protection concerns.
CONNECT We help connect survivors with appropriate specialized services, including health, psychosocial, protection, and other support where available.
FOLLOW UP Where appropriate and with respect for privacy and consent, we follow up to help ensure that support needs are addressed.

Our approach is centered on dignity, confidentiality, safety, and respect for the choices of those seeking support.

Community Awareness & Engagement

Preventing GBV requires the whole community to take part. We work with people in Dzaleka to encourage open conversations, challenge harmful attitudes, and strengthen shared responsibility for the safety and dignity of women and girls.

WHO WE ENGAGE
WOMEN & GIRLS To strengthen awareness, confidence, and knowledge of protection and available support.
YOUNG PEOPLE To promote respectful relationships, positive choices, and prevention of violence from an early stage.
FAMILIES To encourage safe, supportive homes where women, girls, and children can be protected.
COMMUNITY LEADERS To strengthen community responsibility and encourage positive action when protection concerns arise.
MEN & BOYS To promote respect, positive attitudes, and active participation in preventing violence.
COMMUNITY STRUCTURES To strengthen local awareness, prevention, reporting, and connections to appropriate support services.

Working with Girls, Women & Families

Protection becomes stronger when women, girls, and families are supported together. Our work recognizes the different needs and experiences within the community and creates opportunities for people to gain knowledge, seek support, and strengthen their ability to protect themselves and others.

GIRLS & YOUNG WOMEN

We promote safety, confidence, rights awareness, and access to appropriate support, with particular attention to girls and young women facing greater protection risks.

WOMEN & MOTHERS

We support women and mothers through awareness, empowerment, protection information, and connections to appropriate services.

FAMILIES & CAREGIVERS

We encourage families and caregivers to create safe, respectful, and supportive environments for women, girls, and children.

TEEN MOTHERS

We recognize the additional challenges faced by teen mothers and connect them with relevant protection, empowerment, skills, and support opportunities.

When women, girls, and families are better informed, supported, and empowered, communities become stronger and safer for everyone.

Referral & Support

No woman or girl should have to navigate a protection concern alone. When specialized assistance is needed, CRS helps individuals understand their options and connect with appropriate services while respecting their safety, privacy, dignity, and choices.

A CONCERN IS IDENTIFIED

We listen and help understand the protection or support needs involved.

SPECIALIZED HELP IS NEEDED

We connect the individual with appropriate health, psychosocial, protection, legal, or other services where available.

THE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS GUIDANCE

We provide information about available options and support them to make informed choices.

FURTHER SUPPORT IS NEEDED

Where appropriate and with consent, we follow up and help maintain connections with relevant services.

By supporting those facing the greatest risks and engaging the wider community, we work toward stronger protection, greater dignity, and safer communities in Dzaleka.

Who We Support

Our GBV work focuses on people facing increased risks of violence, abuse, exploitation, or limited access to protection and support. We pay particular attention to those whose circumstances make it harder to seek help or protect themselves.

WOMEN & GIRLS

People We Support: Women and girls facing GBV, exploitation, abuse, and other protection concerns.

People We Engage: Women and girls who participate in awareness, prevention, empowerment, and community protection activities.

CHILDREN & ADOLESCENTS

People We Support: Children and adolescents experiencing abuse, exploitation, violence, neglect, and other protection risks.

People We Engage: Children and adolescents who participate in age-appropriate protection, awareness, and violence-prevention activities.

FAMILIES & CAREGIVERS

People We Support: Families and caregivers who may need support to create safer and more supportive environments for women, girls, and children.

People We Engage: Families and caregivers who help promote safety, positive relationships, protection, and prevention within their homes and communities.

YOUNG PEOPLE & COMMUNITY

People We Support: Teen mothers, young people, and vulnerable families experiencing stigma, economic hardship, displacement, or other circumstances that may increase protection risks.

People We Engage: Young people, community leaders, and community members who help raise awareness, challenge harmful attitudes, prevent violence, and strengthen safer communities.

By supporting those facing the greatest risks and engaging the wider community, we work toward stronger protection, greater dignity, and safer communities in Dzaleka.

Our Approach

We believe GBV prevention and response must be rooted in dignity, safety, confidentiality, and community participation. Our approach combines prevention, early identification, support, referral, and empowerment while working with the people and structures that are part of everyday life in Dzaleka.

Through this approach, CRS works not only to respond to GBV but also to address the conditions that allow violence and vulnerability to continue.

Our Impact

Our GBV work is about more than activities and awareness sessions. It is about helping women and girls feel safer, better informed, supported, and more confident to seek help when protection concerns arise.

Every conversation, referral, training, and community action contributes to a safer environment where women and girls can live with greater dignity, protection, and hope.

What We Aim to Achieve

We want our work to contribute to lasting change not only by responding to GBV when it occurs, but by helping create conditions where violence is prevented, and women and girls are safer, stronger, and supported.

Our vision is a Dzaleka where women and girls can live with greater safety, dignity, confidence, and hope, while the whole community takes responsibility for preventing gender-based violence.

Stand With Women and Girls in Dzaleka

Preventing gender-based violence is a responsibility we all share. In Dzaleka, women and girls need safe spaces, information, support, and opportunities to build stronger and more secure futures.

LEARN

Learn about GBV, protection, rights, and how violence affects women, girls, families, and communities.

SPEAK UP

Challenge harmful attitudes, speak against violence, and encourage people facing abuse to seek appropriate support.

SUPPORT

Support women and girls with dignity, respect, and without judgment.

TAKE ACTION

Join community efforts that promote prevention, protection, empowerment, and safer communities.

Together, we can help create a Dzaleka where women and girls are protected from violence, treated with dignity, and empowered to build better futures.