INTRODUCTION
Providing a common theoretical understanding of feminist approaches
What's in the pocketbook?
The Feminist Pocketbook is a series of 10 tip sheets to inform practitioners, researchers, and activists around key topics to address gender-based violence (GBV). It aims to reinforce a feminist approach towards GBV efforts, in order to effectively address the structural inequalities that contribute to violence against women and girls.
Who is the pocketbook for?
This resource is primarily for practitioners, researchers and activists working to prevent and respond to GBV in development and humanitarian settings. However, it also aims to support those communities in engaging effectively with policymakers, donors and other stakeholders, in order to drive greater impact on this issue in different contexts globally.
When GBV programmes shift focus away from tackling gender inequality, patriarchy and intersectionality, the programme funding, design and implementation also become de-centred from women and girls’ needs and rights. - Tip Sheet 2
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Adopt a feminist approach
A common theoretical understanding of feminist approaches to end GBV is key and a feminist perspective is essential for approaches to end GBV in order to understand and dismantle underpinning systems of power.
Maintain focus on women and girls
GBV programmes should maintain a core focus on women and girls to maintain the quality, quantity, and funding for these much-needed initiatives. Efforts addressing violence against women and men should be distinct.
Cross-collaboration can prove beneficial
Joint efforts between GBV programmes and other programmes addressing violence may be beneficial to address common risk factors, but specialised programmes for women and girls should still exist.
Strategies should be multi-level and address potential for backlash
Backlash against GBV efforts for women and girls will often occur in the forms of verbal harassment, online harassment, physical abuse, or sexual abuse. To mitigate this, strategies for how to frame, organise, and engage the community in GBV efforts should be implemented.
The shift to expanded, depoliticised definitions of GBV also represents a type of resistance; co-opting the language of GBV to reassert men’s priorities and perspectives have the effect of inserting the needs and concerns of men in women-specific spaces. - Tip Sheet 9
Access the full COFEM pocketbook here.
Suggested citation: The Coalition of Feminists for Social Change (COFEM). COFEM Feminist Pocketbook : UNU-IIGH, 2025.
