The Global Partnership to End Violence Against Women, a collaboration of Vital Voices Global Partnership, the Avon Foundation for Women and the U.S. Department of State, today presented a new initiative to address gender-based violence: the Gender-Based Violence Emergency Response and Protection Initiative.The Initiative takes a holistic approach to addressing these crimes by creating a global gender-based violence training program for law enforcement, judges, prosecutors, government officials, and NGO advocates – The Justice Institute on Gender-Based Violence. Over the next two years, the program will work with criminal justice professionals and service providers in India, Mexico, Nepal, South Africa and other countries to develop and provide training that promotes a victim-centered approach to holding offenders accountable for their crimes.
Avon Foundation Global Ambassador Fergie said, “The new Justice Institute on Gender-Based Violence is designed to ensure that laws achieve their promise. It will go even further to protect women who are victims of violence and secure justice for them. I am so proud to announce this pioneering new partnership of the Avon Foundation for Women, Vital Voices and the State Department.”
Cindy Dyer, Vice President for Human Rights at Vital Voices Global Partnership and a former specialized domestic and sexual violence prosecutor, states, “We are honored to be part of these groundbreaking, comprehensive initiatives that will provide victims of gender-based violence not only with the critical services they need, but also with the justice they deserve.”
