Critical Problems, Opportunities and Good Practices to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence against Students in Higher Education Institutions

Duration

2023 - 2025

Lead institutions

KU Leuven

Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar

Academic partners

Veerle Draulans

Fernanda Soliz

Project status

Ongoing

Programme

Total budget

69,974.30

General objective

This project aims to enhance policies and institutional capacities for preventing and responding to gender-based violence in Ecuadorian Higher Education Institutions through participatory research, training, and long-term planning.

Summary

This project aims to enhance national policies for eradicating, preventing, and responding to gender-based violence (GBV) in Ecuador, focusing on Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). The project aligns with SDGs 5 (gender equality) and 4 (quality education) and will be implemented in four regions at five significant HEIs. The first component involves participatory research to diagnose issues and identify good practices for GBV prevention and response in HEIs part of the Ecuadorian Interuniversity Network for research on sexual harassment and GBV (REDIFEM). The second component aims to strengthen HEIs’ institutional capacities through an innovative blended training process. The third component focuses on evaluating and disseminating results to create a participatory long-term plan for the HEIs involved, which can be extended to other HEIs in Ecuador. The project employs a participatory, critical, and intersectional approach, ensuring respect for human, social, and nature rights, as well as intersectional justice and equity. Key stakeholders, including civil society organisations, student unions, NGOs, and state and academic bodies, support the proposal.