Understand the difference between prevention and response. Prevention is the effort to stop GBV from occurring, while response is the effort to help deal with the impact of GBV. An example of prevention is helping women become more economically independent, which can help them stay away from situations that could result in GBV. An example of response includes funding an organization that helps find homes for children who have been trafficked.
You can try saying something like, “Did you know that many children are forced to marry at a young age? I’ve been reading a lot about it. I’d love to talk to you about the things I’ve learned if you have time. ” Don’t feel discouraged if not everyone wants to have these conversations with you. It’s okay. Just try to get through to someone else.
You could post a link to an organization that is doing important prevention and say something like, “This is an issue that is really important to me. Please take a few minutes to read this and send me a message if you want to talk more about ways we can reduce GBV. ” Don’t worry, you don’t have to make your entire feed about GBV. It’s still fine to post about other things. Making even a portion of your posts about GBV can really help to educate and inspire others.
You can say something to your supervisor such as, “I’ve noticed that we don’t have many women in supervisory roles. I wonder if I could talk to you about why this matters to me. ” Speaking up is something you can do when you’re with friends and family. You might say, “Actually, it’s really important that women get paid equally for equal work. I don’t appreciate you implying otherwise. ” Some people might not be receptive to your message and that can be hard. Just remember that you’re trying to help and that you can be proud of yourself for that.
Don’t worry about it if you don’t have a lot to give. Even a small monthly donation can make a huge difference in someone’s life.
You can simply say, “I believe you. " That’s a powerful statement and will mean a lot. Don’t ever suggest that the victim is somehow to blame. No one ever deserves to have violence of any kind directed towards them. It might be hard, but try to remember to respond with kindness above all else.
Many events are held virtually now, so you can attend from wherever you are! Ask your friends to join you. You can also sign up to organize your own event. This is a great way to spread awareness in your community.
You don’t have to ask schools to teach young kids about all of the horrors of GBV. But you can ask them to help teach kids important lessons about gender equality, which can help prevent GBV from recurring.
Ask that any discussions of gender in your workplace include all genders. If you have a child in school, check to see if all genders are involved in discussions of sex equality.
For example, there is a serious problem with GBV in Uganda. You could support an organization based there. Locally, you could support your city’s library or community center in sponsoring programs that educate people about GBV. If you can’t afford to donate much, that’s okay. Don’t feel pressured to give more than you can afford.
You can write a letter or an email, make a phone call, or post on social media to get in touch with elected officials. Write something like, “I am your constituent and it is important to me that you push for greater education about GBV in our public schools. ”
You could call or email the station manager and make your request. You can also use social media to make your appeal to a wider audience.
You could also post information about any local events that you know about, such as Take Back the Night events. Many organizations that work to prevent GBV have materials that you can download from their website to use to distribute around the community.
For example, if you like sports check with your local park district to see if they need any coaches for youth teams. The Boys and Girls Club is also a great place to volunteer as a mentor.
