Avon convenes 20th Justice Institute to help improve support for victims of gender-based violence

The Avon Foundation for Women held its second Justice Institute in Argentina in August, marking the 20th Institute convened since the global initiative commenced in 2014.

The Justice Institute initiative gathers the most influential leaders from the legal, prosecution, law enforcement, charity and frontline support sectors for a programme of training with the aim of ensuring that gender-based violence laws and support systems better protect victims.  

Partnering with Vital Voices and Argentina’s local Fundación Avon, The Avon Foundation convened the Institute at the Neuquén Government House and the programme saw discussions, educaton and for the first time a training session for Avon Representatives.  More than 50 Reps from the region participated in the session to help them recognize the many forms of gender-based violence as well as how to access local resources to seek support for themselves, their families, friends and customers.

The event was reported in many media outlets helping to raise awareness of the issue and how the initiative seeks to take comprehensive measures to improve protection efforts for women who experience violence and the response of criminal justice to violence against women in Argentina.

Cindy Dyer, Vice President of the Human Rights team at Vital Voices Global Partnership said: "We will work with judges, prosecutors, police officers, service providers, and other human rights defenders to discuss how communities in Neuquén and Río Negro can better prevent and respond to gender violence."

Since 2014 Avon has funded Justice Institute events in 11 countries including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, India, Mexico, Nepal, the Philippines, Romania, South Africa and the United Kingdom.

"We are learning that although each country faces different challenges, Justice Institute participants around the world report a common barrier: existing laws are not understandable or applied in a coherent way, so women are left without protection, and abusers without accountability," says Christine Jaworsky, Director, Avon Global Foundation for Women. "While we have a lot of work ahead, what these Institutes have already achieved is inspiring and making a real practical difference to women affected.”

Learn more about Avon’s Promise to help end violence against and women and girls here.