The overarching goal of this project is to decrease the incidence of violence against women and children (VAWC). MR GAD project was conceived using Dahlberg and Krug’s ecological model (2002), which identifies interconnected and context-specific risk factors of VAWC. This holistic model encourages VAWC interventions to address risk factors across four levels: individual, relational, community & so
ciety. In the Philippines, the MR GAD model offered an innovative peer-to-peer social norm shifting approach and demonstrated grassroots impact. The project aims to do this through tackling VAWC at the level of men, social networks and gender norms, at the level of formal and informal political leaders, and through existing law enforcement and health services frameworks. A curriculum tailor-fitted to men and appealing to their affective dimensions proved effective. Information and counselling were made available thru health workers and peer counsellors. Policies were developed to take care of women's needs and implemented the existing laws to protect women. Doers of violence were, likewise, encouraged to seek counselling to cut the cycle of violence. More than anything else, men who went through the MR GAD process themselves became CHAMPIONS to advance the causes of men and women.
