The GBV Prevention Network grew out of a field review of regional violence prevention efforts undertaken by Raising Voices and UN-Habitat's Safer Cities Programme in 2003. The response was overwhelming with respondents calling for a forum to exchange ideas, information and resources with others also working on GBV prevention.

Organizations throughout the regions reported knowing little of other efforts underway in other countries and often felt they lacked knowledge or access to resources that would allow them to strengthen their programs. The field review also revealed that many organizations felt they lacked ideas and information that would help them avoid 'fumbling in the dark' or 'reinventing the wheel' as two respondents stated, when trying to design effective programs.

The first activity of the Network was a [Regional Dialogue] held in Kampala, Uganda in September. The aim of the Dialogue was to share experiences and lessons learned in GBV prevention and to create relationships with others doing similar work in the regions. It brought together over 30 activists and practitioners from NGOs and local authorities who are especially interested and active in GBV prevention.

The idea for this website emerged from the Regional Dialogue as participants felt that information - particularly resources and materials generated regionally - was extremely difficult to access. Thus, it is hoped that this site will allow for regional exchange as well as highlighting to other activists, practitioners, donors, policy makers, researchers, etc that GBV prevention efforts are growing in strength and number in the Horn, East and Southern Africa.

The purpose of the GBV Prevention Network is to:

• provide member organizations with relevant information about and access to resources on violence prevention
• to build solidarity between organizations working on violence
• to advocate for increased interest and investment for preventing violence against women in the
  regions
  

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