Role of local partners in a coordinated response

Relevant sectors at the local level respond to violence against women through a coordinated response as follows:

Local level partners/sectors	Role in a coordinated response to violence against women
Health care sector	Implement protocols on screening/routine enquiry Introduce guidance on how various departments (hospitals, family doctors, maternity services, communicable diseases, accident and emergency, etc.) should respond to all forms of violence against women Promote safety, respect and bodily integrity for victims/survivors Provide access to female staff Develop protocols on health service responses to perpetrators Document the medical impacts of violence Promote reproductive health and awareness of links with violence against women Develop responses within mental health services that recognise the links with violence against women and women’s need for safety, including within residential mental health units Develop local referral protocols to psychosocial and other support services Hold roundtables with NGOs and victims/survivors to identify gaps and areas needing further work Gather, monitor and share aggregate data on identification and responses Undergo regular training on violence against women, a coordinated response and best practices in health care for victims/survivors of violence Undergo regular training in best practices for obtaining and handling forensic evidence of violence against women For detailed guidance, see the Health sector module on this site.
Police	Give clear messages that violence against women is a crime and perpetrators will be held accountable and act consistent with those messages Create innovative ways to encourage and enable reporting (e.g. women’s police units, specialized investigative teams) Create and carry out initiatives on responding with respect and belief when women report violence Develop protocols with local psychosocial, advocacy and support services, including referral to such services Meet regularly with NGOs, referral agencies and victims/survivors to problem solve Gather, monitor and share aggregate data on reporting and case outcomes Undergo regular training on responding to violence against women including evidence-gathering and trauma-informed interviewing For detailed guidance, see the Security sector module on this site.
Social services	Implement screening and routine enquiry protocols to detect violence against women and girls Provide guidance on how various departments (child protection/welfare rights, income support/community work) should respond to all forms of violence against women Develop guidance on responding to emotional/psychological/social needs of victims/survivors Explore creating specialized response teams Develop outreach to enable more women and girls to seek help, including in rural or other isolated communities Promote community education, awareness raising and prevention efforts Provide support/advocacy to victims/survivors wishing to pursue legal redress Develop and oversee local referral mechanisms Gather, monitor and share anonymised data on identification and responses Develop mechanisms for the participation of NGOs and victims/survivors in the planning and evaluation of responses Undergo regular training on best practices in preventing and responding to violence against women
NGOs (including shelters and crisis centers )	Provide information and support services, including outreach, to victims/survivors Build a model of responsiveness based on human rights, equality and empowerment Make female advocates and support workers available to victims/survivors Determine whether all women have access to NGO services, and make services available for those groups (e.g. rural, disabled, indigenous, minority) that are currently under-represented Train and supervise NGO staff, social and community workers providing services to victims/survivors using the model of responsiveness Promote community education, awareness raising and prevention efforts Develop local referral mechanisms and obtain feedback on how well they function Gather, monitor and share anonymised data on service users/referrals and responses Build participatory models to enable participation of victims/survivors in the planning and evaluation of responses Create empowerment processes which enable women to speak out against violence against women Take leadership in coordination efforts to ensure a victim/survivor-centered response by all sectors
Community groups	Educate community workers about violence against women and how to respond to victims/survivors and perpetrators Conduct outreach to facilitate access and referral to services Develop protocols on how to deal with boys and men who admit to perpetrating violence against women, or who perpetrate violence against women but do not recognise it as such Promote community dialogue, education, awareness raising and prevention efforts
Victims/survivors	Participate in the planning and evaluation of responses Speak out about violence against women when and where it is safe to do so
Faith groups	Educate own members about violence against women and how to respond to victims/survivors and perpetrators Ensure that interpretations of religious texts neither hold victims/survivors responsible for their abuse nor excuse perpetrators Develop protocols on how to hold perpetrators accountable, especially faith leaders Promote community dialogue, education, awareness raising and prevention efforts Develop referral mechanisms for victims/survivors to specialized services
Local government/traditional authorities	Politicians/leaders should make regular and strong statements about violence against women Create and enforce policies prohibiting violence against women in government operations Provide opportunities for individuals and agencies to pledge support for local campaigns against violence against women Educate staff about all forms of violence against women and how to respond to victims/survivors Provide sustainable funding for specialized support services Develop local partnerships and participate in coordination of services on violence against women Gather, share and monitor anonymised data on prevalence and service provision Improve safety in public spaces and transportation (see the Safe Cities module on this site)
Men’s Groups (Offender Programmes)	Speak out against violence against women Challenge definitions of masculinity that promote/tolerate violence against women Promote discussion of gender roles and stereotypes, power dynamics, equality and attitudes to violence against women For detailed guidance see the Men & Boys module on this site

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