Gender-based violence (GBV) is an umbrella term for any harmful act that is perpetrated against a person’s will and based on socially ascribed differences between males and females. It includes acts that inflict physical, sexual and mental harm or suffering, threats of such acts, coercion and other deprivation of liberty. These acts can occur in public or in private.
Despite growing awareness of GBV and extensive work done by governments, women’s organizations and other partners, many women and girls who are subjected to violence still lack access to essential services that support their safety, health and access to justice. Lack of a survivor-centered approach to GBV services is a key challenge in the delivery of GBV response services in the Asia-Pacific region, including in Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste.
Building on Phase I, Phase II of Her Health and Dignity, Our Priority: Strengthening services for survivors of gender-based violence will expand the strengthening of skills, knowledge and capacities of GBV responders, including health care providers in additional geographic areas in Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Timor-Leste (TL).
How Zonta helps
From 2020-2022, Zonta International contributed US$1,000,000 to UNFPA for the project. For the next two years, Zonta has committed US$750,000 to ensure that all women and girls who experience violence use quality essential services, including for long-term recovery from violence, in Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste. There will be an estimated 578,000 beneficiaries in PNG and an estimated 74,000 in TL.
Expected outcomes
- Health ministries in PNG and TL adopt and institutionalize international standards and guidelines for survivor-centered GBV services through health sector.
- National and sub-national governments develop and adopt GBV referral systems and GBV Standard Operating Guidelines.
- Relevant government authorities and service providers have the knowledge, skills and resources to provide quality GBV case management.
- All project sites have functional referral pathways established in line with global guidelines.
- At least 70% of project-trained health practitioners demonstrate an 80% increase in knowledge on survivor-centered principles for GBV response.
Read a detailed project description to find out more about this exciting partnership between Zonta International and UNFPA.