The Role of Gender Norms in Preventing Violence against Women: A case study from Lima, Peru

Sammanfattning: The third UN Millennium Development Goal promotes “achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women” (UNDP 2013). It reflects the fact that violence against women (VAW) is a problem of global proportions which hinders the achievement of gender equality and at the same time has negative effects on countries’ social and economical well-being. In Peru, numerous efforts by the government, national and international organizations have been made to fight VAW during the last years. Nonetheless, high levels remain and the situation seems far from improving. According to the ecological model of violence, societal factors such as gender-equal social and legal norms can contribute to prevention; which is why this thesis is focusing on the role of gender norms within Peruvian prevention measures against VAW. Furthermore, norm theories claim that the diffusion and alteration of norms depends on an interaction between local and international norms. Consequently, also the influence of national and international gender norms will be examined. Following a qualitative research strategy through conducting 14 semi-structured interviews with representatives of different types of VAW preventing organizations, this thesis finds that most organizations rather focus on treating the consequences of VAW than on prevention. Still, including and addressing gender norms in order to prevent VAW seems to be an approach which gains further influence in the Peruvian context.