GENDER SENSITIVITY SEMINAR: A PROPOSED INTERVENTION PROGRAM IN REDUCING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN

Abstract

Violence against women and children is a systemic issue deeply rooted in cultural norms, structural inequalities, and enduring gender disparities. In many societies, gender-based violence is normalized, and victims often encounter stigma, fear of retaliation, and a lack of resources necessary to escape abusive situations. Gender sensitivity training plays a vital role in addressing these challenges by educating individuals about gender concepts, diverse gender experiences, and the imperative to close gender gaps to achieve equality. This study seeks to assess the effectiveness of a Gender Sensitivity Seminar as an intervention program aimed at reducing violence against women and children. This study employs a descriptive research design to systematically explore the subject matter. The sample comprises 20 women and 30 children, who were selected through a random sampling technique to ensure an unbiased and representative participant group. The study found that most respondents were young females who were students with a high school education. They strongly agreed that the Gender Sensitivity Seminar effectively covered essential areas including medical, legal, psychological, and shelter-related support. A major challenge highlighted was the difficulty in coordinating with multiple service providers, largely due to scheduling conflicts and communication issues. To address this, many respondents suggested offering transportation assistance and selecting more accessible venues to promote broader participation. The findings of this study provide valuable insights for evaluating the effectiveness of the proposed Gender Sensitivity Seminar as an intervention designed to reduce violence against women and children.