Final Evaluation: Young People Challenging Gender Norms to Break the Silence that surrounds Sexual Violence in South-West Colombia

Location: Colombia 

Grantee: Fundación Servicios Integrales para la Mujer - Si Mujer 

Grant period: 1 September 2018 – 31 August 2021 

Grant amount: USD 426,029 

Authors/editors: Fabiola Amariles; Brenda Bucheli 

Publication year: 2022 

Fundación Servicios Integrales para la Mujer - Si Mujer implemented the three-year project “Young People Challenging Gender Norms to Break the Silence that surrounds Sexual Violence in South-West Colombia” in Santiago de Cali and nearby municipalities in the state of Valle del Cauca with the support of the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women from 2018 to 2021. Among other things, the project aimed to: 

• address gender-based violence by empowering adolescents and youth to challenge harmful, unequal gender norms; 
• lead community-based advocacy initiatives; 
• provide young people, including internally displaced and Indigenous youth, with leadership training, and facilitate community-based workshops on gender, sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR), and violence prevention measures; and 
• provide training on gender equity, SRHR and gender-based violence for community-based civil society organizations and key actors from public institutions.  

The final evaluation found that the project empowered and mobilized young people and leaders to challenge harmful gender norms, raise awareness on sexual violence, and advocate for their sexual and reproductive health rights in their communities and across digital platforms. The project was identified as an innovative, pioneering model for future replication as it was widely accepted and produced positive results. 

Main findings of the evaluation: 

• The project’s approach of combining key actors in a process of transforming gender norms proved to be effective. 
• The work with youth and community organizations exceeded expectations. 
• 111 adolescents and youth were empowered as agents of change through training.  
• 554 young people gained increased knowledge of gender and sexuality, SRHR, and harmful unequal norms and practices that contribute to sexual violence.  
• 1,750 people were sensitized through community-based initiatives facilitated by youth leaders on challenging harmful gender norms and sexual violence.  
• 118 officials from 44 public institutions had strengthened capacity to detect and refer cases of sexual violence against young women and girls.