Social Marketing Evidence Guide for the Prevention of Violence Against Women: Summary of recommendations

<p dir="ltr">Our Watch commissioned UTS to conduct this literature review with the aim of identifying promising practice in social marketing that supports prevention of VAW and to provide insights and practical guidance to enhance the effectiveness of social marketing efforts to prevent violence against women. <br>Violence against women (VAW) remains a global issue, with only marginal reductions in assault, injury, and death rates despite ongoing efforts (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2022). In Australia, while attitudes towards VAW have improved in some areas (Coumarelos et al., 2024), First Nations people and rates of sexual violence still need urgent attention (ABS, 2023; Our Watch, 2024). While physical violence and intimate partner homicides have decreased since 2005 (ABS,2023), there has been a concerning rise in women killed by intimate partners from 2020-2023 (Miles & Bricknell, 2024), with 58 women killed in domestic homicides in 2023 (ABS, 2024). The National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children 2022-2032, endorsed by the government, has raised awareness of VAW and the role of social norms and patriarchal systems and structures in perpetuating it, with shifting these norms, systems and structures being key to primary prevention efforts (Our Watch, 2024). Evidence shows that effective primary prevention programs should be integrated, multi-level, and collaborative, focusing on both community and individual efforts, and are most effective when combined with, or complementary to, early intervention, response, and recovery initiatives.</p>