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MOBILE DATA COLLECTION
Gender-Based Violence Response
Gender-based violence (GBV) is a global issue that refers to physical, sexual, psychological, and economic harm resulting from discrimination against a person on the basis of gender.
The majority of people who experience GBV are women, and approximately 70% of women worldwide encounter violence in their lifetime. While the most common form of GBV experienced by women is inflicted by an intimate partner, GBV can also occur in a variety of practices, such as early (childhood) marriage, female feticide, violence during pregnancy, female genital mutilation, honor killings, dowry murder, human trafficking, prostitution, and sexual violence in conflict, including using rape as a weapon of war (UNiTE, 2009).
In order to reduce GBV prevalence, governments and organizations around the world are leading efforts to prevent and respond to GBV. Legal frameworks to protect against common forms of GBV now exist in many countries, while public fervor following high-profile GBV cases has also driven forward legislative and social action. Yet, even with widespread support, implementing anti-GBV initiatives has been fraught with challenges. Private and public sector entities are actively seeking innovative responses to effectively prevent and address GBV in various countries around the world.
Benefits of Mobile Data Collection in Gender-Based Violence Response
Decision support and checklists help frontline workers adhere to tested, standardized protocols that accurately screen for GBV.
SMS capabilities allow frontline workers to communicate directly with victims of GBV.
Offline capabilities and two-way SMS offer beneficiaries in even the most remote locations access to essential services, either through visiting frontline workers or SMS.
Multimedia capabilities allow frontline workers to share informative videos and educate community members, especially men and boys.
Mobile tools can integrate with referral networks to ensure follow-up support for victims of GBV.
Featured CommCare-Based Gender-Based Violence Response Projects
USAID Innovative Uses of Mobile Technology to Improve GBV Services
India
St. John’s Research Institute uses CommCare to improve protocol adherence and case management for their frontline workers serving victims of gender-based violence.
UNICEF Community Survivor Support Unit Teams
Malawi
UNICEF uses CommCare to strengthen monitoring and support for their Community Victim Support Units in Malawi.
USAID Innovative Uses of Mobile Technology to Improve GBV Services
India
Since September 2013, Dimagi has been collaborating with partners at St. John’s Research Institute to apply CommCare to help auxiliary nurses and other health workers identify and manage cases of gender-based violence. Their custom mobile app helps the health workers follow tested, standardized protocols and inform survivors of their rights and options, provide counseling messages, and facilitate support services. CommCare reduces the burden of paper-based reporting and increases adherence to tested protocols that accurately screen for gender-based violence.
UNICEF Community Survivor Support Unit Teams
Malawi
In an effort to improve access to women and child protection services and reduce the impact of HIV on women and children, UNICEF worked with the government of Malawi established a Community Victim Support Unit (CVSU) in each of the 300 authorities in the country. CVSUs provide psychosocial support, meditation, and referral services for women and children survivors of abuse, violence, exploitation, and neglect. CommCare has been used to strengthen monitoring and support the activities and information systems of CVSUs.
The Latest on Mobile Data Collection
in Gender-Based Violence Response
Updates and advice from our world-class partners and Global Services team:
Dimagi's Mohini Bhavsar Talks About Using CommCare to Combat Gender-Based Violence
Dimagi Senior Business Development Director Mohini Bhavsar attended a panel at the Wilson Center discussing the use of technology for gender-based violence response.
Mobile Device Helps Nurses Identify Domestic Violence in Bangalore, India
A post originally published by the Population Reference Bureau discusses Dimagi’s efforts to prevent and respond to gender-based violence in South Asia.
How Simple Mobile Apps Can Help Women’s Organizations Grow their Impact
Dimagi’s Gillian Javetski was interviewed as part of series on ICT for the support of women around the world to discuss the use of technology in gender-based violence response.
Learn more about CommCare
Learn how the world’s most powerful mobile data collection platform can help your program
More than 2000 projects across 80 countries rely on CommCare for their mobile data collection and reporting needs.
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those with challenging and unique
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- Ted Barlow, President
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data collectors, which
drastically reduced human error.”
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