Preventing Sexual Violence in Post Conflict Communities: Developing a Community Based Approach in Ayacucho, Peru

Background:

Research conducted in post-conflict contexts has primarily focused on interventions that assist victims/survivors of sexual violence, with much less attention being paid to preventative programming, despite an identified need for it. This pilot study examined the development of a community-informed approach to prevention of sexual violence in Ayacucho City, Peru, a central location of the Peruvian armed conflict (1980- 2000). Informed by structural violence and social change theories, the study aimed to develop and implement a locally informed prevention model focused on preventing sexual violence, by exploring normative and behavioral transformation among community members.

Methods:

The study involved three phases and relied on action research principles. Community members were recruited using purposive sampling to co-create a prevention of sexual violence strategy for the region.   The first phase of data generation examined local priorities in prevention of sexual violence through focus groups (n= 8) and interviews (n=12). The second phase developed a prevention training session using thematic analysis to co-analyze contributions of a community advisory committee (n=12). A pilot and an evaluation of the prevention training was conducted in the third phase, with the recruitment of a student sample (n= 100) and a community sample (n= 60). The qualitative evaluation followed the ‘most significant change’ format of inquiry.  In depth interviews (n= 40) were recorded digitally, transcribed verbatim and coded using thematic analysis.

Findings:

The first phase showed the community prioritized prevention targeting sexual harassment in public places and youth risk behaviours, such as excessive drinking at parties, among other topics. Based on these findings, a training session, ‘Rikuspa Yanapakuq’ (Who Sees and Helps) was developed in the second phase. The session aimed to involve community members in culturally sanctioned active behaviours of preventing sexual violence.  In the third phase, the session was piloted by researchers and community members who were trained as facilitators. Findings from the qualitative evaluation revealed a number of perceived benefits from the training. Common themes included: rejection of everyday sexual harassment as “normative”, consideration of sexual violence as a “community” problem, and heightened perception of victims as possible “members of own family”. The use of Indigenous traditions and local cultural resources was indicated as a significant strength of the training session.  The manualized revised training session will be given to the local university, the municipality and collaborative organizations to continue spreading the preventative approach.     

Conclusions and Implications

Findings highlight the importance of framing sexual violence as a communal problem whereby community members can intervene to prevent sexual assaults before they occur. The participatory approach has research and capacity-building benefits reflective of the local socio-economic and cultural realities of post-conflict Ayacucho. In the long term, crafting culturally accessible tools that enhance community involvement in prevention measures may lead to a reduction in the occurrence of sexual violence in the community. The subsequent aim is to mobilize this knowledge among community members and international audiences, connecting local innovations in post-conflict sexual violence prevention to larger global networks.