26 September 2019
Primary prevention is an approach to address the underlying gendered and other intersecting drivers of violence to stop violence before it occurs. Primary prevention of violence against women encompasses activities to build respectful relationships and increase gender equality to reduce and ultimately end violence against women. It also includes activities to counter other forms of discrimination that combine with gender inequality and can contribute to increased severity or prevalence of violence against women experiencing these multiple forms of discrimination.
Between December 2018 and February 2019 AWAVA conducted a survey of prevention activities, led by our Violence Prevention Working Group. This was the first attempt to map primary prevention activities across Australia. The survey aimed to create a picture of activities to inform policy, practice and advocacy, and to identify key enablers as well as barriers and challenges to prevention work.