Tackling Gender-Based Violence in Kano; How CITAD's Mobile App is Empowering Survivors to Report Cases

The CampusPal mobile app is a safe, confidential place for students at colleges in Nigeria to report cases of sexual assault and gender-based violence.

India's All-Women Police Stations (AWPS)—specialized police stations staffed entirely by women and designed to handle gender-based violence cases—have increased reporting of crimes against women by 29% and improved arrest rates for certain offenses by 15%.

This Ability is a non-profit in Kenya specializing in supporting those facing gender-based violence, particularly with disabilities, with myriad resources. The organization developed a network of on-call women called "Mama Siri" who field emergency and informative calls on a toll-free number. Since 2020, their hotlines have received more than 4,500 calls.

Gillette, Wyoming is a small rural town that isn't connected to many resources, so that help for people who have experienced traumas can be difficult to access. With the implementation of the Gillette Abuse Refuge Foundation, however, that isolation is decreasing. Through digital connections dubbed as telemedicine, trauma survivors are able to connect with therapists to receive support and counseling sessions.

The Pittsburgh startup company, Lifeshel, has developed a phone case, called Whistl, that help those in an emergency, specifically those who may be being assaulted. The technology is activated by buttons on the outside of the case that, when pressed, emits a high-volume alert, lights a strobing LED light, sends bluetooth notifications to law-enforcement, and starts automatically recording whatever may be occurring.

Women-led dialogue circles in Maiduguri, Nigeria, have drawn over 1,000 gang members into conversation about peace, persuading some to renounce violence and become community advocates.

A community-based cooperative of gender-based-violence survivors in Kasuwan Magani, trained by the NGO EWEI through its "Together We Can" project, has established a local safe space and referral network, which has improved reporting and response to sexual and gender-based violence in a rural Kaduna community.

Nantes, France has implemented a comprehensive city-wide strategy to combat gender inequality through multiple coordinated initiatives. The centerpiece is Citad'elles, a, 24/7 shelter that centralizes 18 nonprofit organizations offering legal, psychological, and medical services for women experiencing violence, eliminating the need to travel to multiple locations across the city. Since opening in 2019, Citad'elles has served over 5,500 women, averaging three new users daily and 450 follow-up appointments monthly.

The salishi (local arbitration) system operated by women's collectives in West Bengal successfully resolves about 74% of domestic violence and family disputes through community-based mediation. This has resulted in the encouragement of people following legal routes.

The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) provides comprehensive survivor support services including legal aid, medical care, shelters, and prevention programs, successfully building public trust and securing 140+ convictions while reaching 6.3 million people through awareness campaigns, though significant gaps remain between the 8,692 reported cases and actual access to justice and support services.