Publication: Engaging Men to Transform Gender Attitudes and Prevent Intimate-Partner Violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo
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2020-12
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2021-01-12
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Over a third of women in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have experienced physical or sexual intimate-partner violence (IPV) in the past year (2013-2014 DHS). In this context, the Africa Gender Innovation Lab (GIL) in collaboration with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) tested the effectiveness of the Engaging Men through Accountable Practice (EMAP) program. EMAP is a male-only discussion group intervention aimed to prevent IPV, and to transform gender attitudes and couples’ power dynamics; all male discussion groups are informed by and accountable to women’s groups in the community. The EMAP program significantly improved the quality of the couple relationships and led to changes in men’s behaviors that are often associated with IPV, like reduced alcohol consumption. Further, the study found that the discussion groups led to improvements in men’s gender equitable attitudes, reducing their support for violence against women and increasing their support for a woman’s right to refuse to have sex. Despite these changes on the journey to IPV prevention, female partners of male EMAP participants reported, on average, no change in the levels of IPV that they experienced.
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“Falb, Kathryn; Hossain, Mazeda; Kabeya, Rocky; Koussoube, Estelle; Lake, Milli; Lewis, Chloe; Pierotti, Rachael S.; Roth, Danielle; Vaillant, Julia. 2020. Engaging Men to Transform Gender Attitudes and Prevent Intimate-Partner Violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo. © World Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/35006 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”
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Publication Engaging Men to Transform Inequitable Gender Attitudes and Prevent Intimate Partner Violence(BMJ Global Health, 2020-05-27)Globally, one in three women worldwide report experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) in their lifetime. The study objective was to understand the effectiveness of Engaging Men through Accountable Practice (EMAP), a group-based discussion series which sought to transform gender relations in communities, on intimate partner violence (IPV), gender inequitable attitudes and related outcomes. Interventions engaging men have the potential to change gender attitudes and behaviours in conflict-affected areas. However, while EMAP led to changes in gender attitudes and behaviours related to perpetration of IPV, the study showed no overall reduction of women’s experience of IPV. 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The authors find that among men who were the most physically violent at baseline, the EMAP program was effective at reducing the probability and severity of IPV perpetration. Although zero violence is a necessary and critical goal when promoting gender equality, these results reinforce the importance of measuring the contribution of policies and programs to reduce IPV’s occurrence, in addition to measuring effects on primary prevention and cessation of violence.Publication The Unintended Impacts of an Intimate Partner Violence Prevention Program in Rwanda(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025-06-25)A cluster-randomized controlled trial in rural Rwanda evaluated a 22-week couples’ training program aimed at reducing intimate partner violence (IPV) by shifting gender norms and promoting equitable relationships among Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) members. Contrary to expectations, the intervention increased reported IPV, with women in the treatment group experiencing significantly more physical and sexual violence. Spillover effects also emerged in non-participating couples in treatment villages. Findings suggest that male backlash against changing gender norms contributed to the rise in IPV, driven by a divergence in attitudes between men and women. The study underscores the importance of anticipating resistance in patriarchal contexts and integrating real-time monitoring into IPV prevention programs to mitigate harm and inform safer, more effective approaches.Publication Equality on His Terms(Sage Publications, 2018-08)Efforts to promote gender equality often encourage changes to interpersonal interactions as a way of undermining gender hierarchy. Such programs are premised on the idea that the gender system can be undone when individuals behave in ways that challenge prevailing gender norms. 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