involving Religious Leaders and institutions Leading To Gender-Equitable Relationships and Prevention of Gender-Based Violence (Gbv) : a Promising Practice

Prevention+ is the first-ever, multi-intervention, global test case for engaging men and boys in preventing gender-based violence at a large scale. The programme addresses inequalities between women and men by focusing on men as agents of change and promoting healthy masculinities based on equality, caregiving, and non-violence. Prevention+ Indonesia runs in Yogyakarta, Lampung, and Jakarta for advocacy at the national level, and aims to provide key insights into the efficacy of gender-transformative approaches through government buy-in and institutional uptake to prevent GBV. To date, Prevention+ Indonesia has generally found positive shifts with regard to gender-equitable attitudes within the Office of Religious Affairs (Kantor Urusan Agama; KUA). Direct engagement of Prevention+ Indonesia towards religious leaders and sensitizing them to gender-transformative approaches to prevent GBV has proven to greatly help in facilitating a change in perspective and a shift these agenciesu2019 values. This approach has produced several positive results, such as religious leaders including gender-transformative messages in their sermons, and education and counseling of future brides and grooms. The Rahima Foundation encourages religious leaders to champion gender-equal perspectives and healthy relationships within the context of their teachings and marriage courses. Together with Rutgers Indonesia, they conducted a needs assessment, several trainings, and discussion forums for heads of KUA in Gunung Kidul and Kulon Progo on how to integrate gender-equal perspectives and healthy relationships within the context of their teachings and marriage courses. Currently, Prevention+ Indonesia, implementing partner Rifka Annisa and KUA are conducting a pilot in Kulon Progo district on integrating gender-equal perspectives in the course for brides and grooms-to-be and for couples who have been married for 0-5 years. Preliminary findings indicate positive results among both participants and heads of KUA in terms of equal and respectful relationships. Therefore, this work will be continued in 2019 and 2020 with 30 other KUA agencies.