Gender-based violence includes acts of violence in the form of physical, psychological, or sexual violence against a person specifically because of his or her gender. It constitutes one of the most widespread human rights abuses and public health problems in the world today, with devastating long-term consequences for victims’ physical and mental health. Most of the reports look at gender-based violence legislation about rape, sexual assault, and domestic violence but do not address the many other forms, such as female genital mutilation, dating violence, trafficking in women, and forced prostitution. The Office on Violence against Women (OVW) also noted the need to see the engagement of men and boys as allies in the prevention of violence against women and girls in the United States.

Statistics show that the majority of victims of GBV are women, even though men can also be victims. This consequently makes men accountable for their acts. The opposite tendency would be the adoption of healthy masculine behaviors and empowering men to be positive and supportive partners, role models for other men, and agents of change in promoting healthy families and women’s socio-economic development and the eradication of sexual and gender-based violence, which has worked well. 

Consider the wave of immigrants to the United States, as stated by the Refugee Processing Center. 11,814 refugees were resettled in the fiscal year 2020, 62,500 in 2021, and the United States intends to receive up to 125,000 in 2022. Out of the refugees resettled in every state, 35% are from Africa.  ALARM, as an African organization with facilitation offices in Dallas is ready to be approached to help address some of the challenges faced by African refugees living across Dallas. ALARM believes that engaging male champions to fight violence against women and girls in the refugee community of Dallas will be a durable solution to unaddressed issues of violence that may date back to the home where refugees originate. This program of engaging male champions to fight violence against women will empower men and boys with skills on women’s rights and knowledge of the forms of abuse that constitute an act of violence, such as genital mutilation, dating violence, human trafficking, and forced prostitution. 

The cultural orientation that prepares migrants before their arrival and resettlement does not cover all the topics necessary because of a lack of time, challenges in adapting training to accommodate the diversity of the refugees, and the different states in which they will be living. This project will bring a response to the scenario of GBV that has been forgotten and may have root causes in cultures and beliefs. It will provide an in-depth understanding of violence against girls and women in all forms and its effects. It will also highlight the impact of the non-formal educational curriculum as a tool that can be used to prevent violence against girls and women. At the end of the project, girls and women will be able to work together with men to speak out against GBV in the community, as well as claim women’s rights and the rights of GBV victims. It will build partnerships and synergies between men and women for the effective promotion of healthy families.

1. Methodology

ALARM already has the curriculum on GBV, which will be used to train Community Activists-Male Champions (CAMC). The group will be active in the refugee community of Dallas for GBV outreach and awareness, orientation, and referral pathways. Leaflets will be shared with a message encouraging men and boys to adopt healthy masculine behaviors and to be transformative gender champions. Peer educators and survivors become focal persons in the community to stand firm for testimonies, render perpetrators accountable, and eradicate denial linked to culture and beliefs. 

2. Outputs:

1. Training conducted on girls’ and women’s violence, discrimination, gender equality, respectful relationships and abuse; and on identification and prevention of acts of violence
2. Stakeholders’ forums held to promote zero tolerance for violence against girls and women
3. Outreach activities to create awareness of GBV and promote prevention initiatives.
4. Advocacy initiatives with community leaders to address violence against girls in the community.
5. Conference to share stories and create awareness on violence against girls and women in the community.
6. The group of Community Activist-Male Champions (CAMC) identified victims and referred them to the institution of concern
7. Distribution of first aid intervention for GBV victims.
8. Results:

1. At least 20 boys and men are trained and have skills on GBV in all its forms and become Community Activist-Male Champions
2. 20 boys and men committed to being gender champions in the refugees’ community of Dallas
3. Male and boy champions are engaged to speak out and take action against GBV in their own lives and in their communities. 
4. At least 20 trained boys and men identify GBV acts, discrimination, and abuse in their own relationships and develop skills to build respectful relationships.
5. A positive change in the culture of masculinity and gender inequality, reducing the prevalence of GBV in families
6. The positive change is displayed towards the culture and beliefs for practices that form a GBV act
7. At least 500 young girls and women, boys, and men will be reached with GBV awareness and prevention messages within a period of 36 months.
8. Five Peer groups of 50 educators/persons trained to reach at least 10 households of the refugee community to educate youth and adults on GBV prevention
9. Identified victims of GBV are referred to the institution of concern and receive support
10. A joint action plan between lawyers and health personnel to care for GBV victims is put in place as the terms of reference.
11. Strategies proposed

1. Using the ALARM US staff and volunteers to train men and boys as Community Activists-Male Champions to understand and know the rights of girls and women, the role of CAMC in fighting gender inequality, identifying violent leading acts, prevention, and the legal process.
2. Engage community leaders to support male champions that focus on speaking out against gender-based violence. Community leaders will be invited to the stakeholders’ meeting to be sensitized about the project and strategize on how to be transformative in their community. 
3. The project beneficiaries will act through outreach and peer education activities that focus on speaking out for girls’ and women’s rights to live a life free of violence.
4. Referrals of the victims will be made in connection with the rule of law services and health institutions. 
5. Adoption of an electronic system of sharing victims’ data of GBV and the follow-up to be done confidentially.

5. Duty bearer roles

1. Each community of refugees in Dallas will have a community activist/gender champion accessible for information for girls’ and women’s protection against GBV
2. Legal and medical institutions that ALARM contracted for joint action of fighting GBV will receive data of GBV victims from CAMC and share updates and support provided.
3. Community and religious leaders will integrate violence prevention into their strategies.
4. ALARM will provide training and coordinate the activities on the ground with regular follow-up and reports and will advocate for recommendations of the 3-year project implementation.

6. Activities

Year One

1. Two stakeholder inception meetings for 30 stakeholders to inform and learn about the project and facilitate inputs for proper project implementation. 

2. Printing 100 materials (posters, information leaflets, T-shirts, stickers, badges, and banners) to be used during outreach and peer education activities.

3. Two Training workshops for 20 boys and men gender champions to enable them to understand violence against women and girls, facilitate sessions to prevent and respond to GBV acts, and facilitate GBV awareness

4. CAMC formed a synergy task force to lead outreach activities for neighboring families at least once a month for 36 months of project implementation.

5. One Conference for legal and health clinic personnel for collaboration in referrals of victims of GBV

6. Joining GBV’s clusters in celebration of International Women’s Day in the outreach campaign

Year Two:

1. 50 youth (boys and girls) from refugee groups in Dallas recruited by CAMC for the GBV campaign and awareness are trained and are active in sensitization  
2. Voices of youth in 5 schools through leaflets and banner messages discouraging GBV and calling upon boys to become transformative towards GBV acts.
3. 50 trained peer educators led peer activities supporting women and girls with first aid kits.
4. 50 male champions received refresher training that covered new trends, obstacles, and challenges in GBV championing work.
5. Printing banners, leaflets, and T-shirts for the outreach campaign on International Women’s Day for the second year of the project implementation
6. Beneficiaries’ conference for sharing successful stories

Year Three

1. Formation of 5 clubs of gender activists (including young girls and boys) from the refugee community by taking into account neighboring families
2. Training the 5 clubs on GBV prevention, considering culture and beliefs 
3. Distribution of phones to 5 community activists and 5 representatives of clubs for direct connection and reports to legal institutions, health clinics, ALARM, and OVW as well. That technology will help to know the GBV incident prevalence and facilitate follow-up and how perpetrators will be held accountable. 
4. Engage a lay legal person and mental health volunteer for first aid intervention to the victims 
5. Participation in International Women’s Day and awarding male champions who displayed the best records in fighting violence against women and girls.
6. Do monitoring, evaluation, and learning. This activity will compile the impact assessment, success stories, and records archives.