A coordinated response to violence against women operates at various levels, many of which overlap:
- Government (whether national, regional/federal or local);
- Institutions (e.g. police, judicial system, health services, education),
- Civil society advocates (NGO shelters and crisis centers)
- State social service providers and
- Communities (civil society groups, traditional leaders, victims/survivors and men’s groups seeking to stop violence against women).
One promising example of a coordinated response is the ‘Coordinated Community Action Model’ developed by the Domestic Violence Institute of Michigan, USA, and inspired by the Duluth Model (discussed elsewhere in this module). The diagram below illustrates which sectors are responsible for responding to intimate partner violence and the ways in which they can intervene to stop or prevent it.
The Coordinated Community Action diagram shows in a simple and clear way of how violence against women can be dealt with comprehensively if a variety of key agencies work in partnership. This model can be adapted to apply both to sub-national and national levels. While it was developed to apply to the response to intimate partner violence, it may be adapted to other forms of violence against women.