Prevention Strategies

Possible Goals and Objectives to Prevent Gender-Based Violence

Preventing Gender-Based Violence (GBV) allows everyone—including survivors—a chance to lead autonomous, fulfilling, and productive lives free from fear and intimidation.

Goals and Objectives:

  • Expand knowledge and awareness of GBV.

  • Meet the protection needs of survivors and empower communities to challenge beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours that condone GBV.

  • Encourage and promote training and sensitization of service providers and the public on GBV.

  • Influence positive attitudes and behaviour changes in society.

  • Support laws that promote gender equality and address violence against women.

  • Ensure survivors have reliable, timely access to culturally appropriate protection and services.

  • Create a holistic, strength-based approach focused on relational well-being and community healing.

  • Support survivors and communities to increase safety and reduce harm.

  • Foster a clear understanding of trauma and its impacts.

  • Educate yourself and others on the root causes of violence.

  • Interrupt sexist and discriminatory language.

Art by: William Monague

Solutions to Gender-Based Violence

1. Educate

Education is one of the most powerful solutions, as GBV is a learned behaviour—and it can be unlearned.

  • For Women: Know your rights, how to report violence, and how to reject harmful gender norms.

  • For Men: Understand how patriarchal structures create harmful norms and how behaviour can contribute to unhealthy dynamics.

  • For Communities: Learn the root causes of GBV and how to respond when it is witnessed.

2. Believe and Support Survivors

One of the biggest barriers is that survivors are often not believed, which adds further trauma.

  • Helping survivors share their stories is a key step in breaking the cycle.

  • GBV thrives in silence—ensure survivors have ongoing supports after reporting violence.

  • Remove stigma. Survivors should not face additional exclusion due to poverty, mistrust in systems, or harmful labels.

  • Survivors need access to quality healthcare, psychological support, legal services, economic assistance, and safe spaces for themselves and their children.

3. Challenge Gender Norms

"Violence against women and girls is rooted in the patriarchal power imbalance between men and women. In general, men are often stereotyped as aggressive, independent, and decisive, while women are characterized as kind, helpful, and sympathetic." (Heliman, 2001)
Breaking down these stereotypes is essential to addressing GBV.

4. Engage Men as Allies

  • Any solution that does not engage men and boys is limited in its effectiveness.

  • Encourage both men and women to transform attitudes and behaviours together.

5. Focus on Community Change

  • Communities must take responsibility and unite to prevent and end violence.

6. Empower Women

  • Support and empower women to lead in the fight against GBV.

The Bystander Approach

A bystander is someone who witnesses a harmful situation and has the opportunity to intervene—or do nothing. Active bystanders:

  • Recognize inappropriate or threatening behaviour.

  • Choose to safely challenge it.

  • Help before, during, and after a situation occurs.

Key Skills for Active Bystanders:

  • Recognize when someone is in danger.

  • Intervene in a safe and effective way.

Art by: Karen Erickson

Art by: Marcus Gosse

Before You Intervene – The ABC Approach:

A – Assess for Safety:

  • Notice the event and ask yourself if you can help safely.

  • Your personal safety is a priority—never put yourself at risk.

  • Whether in person or online, be aware of your surroundings.

B – Be in a Group:

  • It’s safer to call out behaviour in a group.

  • If alone, report it to others who can act.

C – Care for the Victim:

  • Talk to the person who may need help and ask if they are okay.

How to Intervene Safely: Hollaback’s 5 D’s

Remember: In an emergency, call the police. Only intervene if it is safe to do so.

Distract: Interrupt the situation indirectly. Create a diversion to remove the victim from danger.

Delegate: If you cannot safely intervene, ask someone in authority to step in.

Delay: If unsafe to act in the moment, wait until it’s safe to check in with the victim or report the incident.

Direct Action: If it’s safe, firmly call out the behaviour and support the victim. Remain calm and factual.

Document: If safe, record the incident to provide evidence.

Clare’s Law (Interpersonal Violence Disclosure Protocol Act)

Purpose:
Clare’s Law allows police to share information about a current or former intimate partner’s violent history so you can make informed choices about your safety.

It is named after Clare Wood, a 36-year-old woman murdered in 2009 in the UK by a partner with a known violent history. Her death led to the creation of a law that enables early warning and prevention. Newfoundland and Labrador’s version came into effect on November 2, 2023.

What is Interpersonal Violence?

This law defines it as actual or threatened violence in an intimate partner relationship. It may be a single act or a pattern of abuse, including:

  • Physical abuse

  • Sexual abuse

  • Criminal harassment (stalking)

  • Threats to harm children, family, or pets

  • Property damage

  • Controlling movements, communication, or finances

  • Emotional or psychological abuse

Art by: Jackie Traverse

How Clare’s Law Works:

Right to Ask

You can apply to find out if your current or former intimate partner has a history of violence.

  • Apply online or at a police station

  • Parents of minors and legal guardians can apply

  • Support persons may apply with consent

  • Your identity will be verified, and you may be asked to attend a pre-disclosure meeting

Right to Know

Police can proactively disclose information if they believe you are at risk, even without an application.

Risk Assessment

Police will gather and review information such as:

  • Convictions for violent or non-violent offences related to interpersonal violence

  • Criminal charges or patterns of concerning behaviour

  • Police warnings, diversion programs, and prior cases

  • Records from law enforcement databases (e.g., CPIC, firearms registry)

  • Reports from other jurisdictions, if relevant

Risk levels are classified as:

  1. Insufficient Information

  2. Low

  3. Medium

  4. High

Disclosure

If a disclosure is made:

  • You will receive relevant, contextual information

  • The person you’re inquiring about will not be informed of your request

  • You must keep the information confidential

  • It cannot be used in legal proceedings (e.g., family court)

Note: Clare’s Law is a tool for prevention — it is meant to give people at risk the knowledge they need to make safe, informed decisions.