UNITAR Jeju international Training Center (JITC) hosted a Webinar titled "Enhancing Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) for Effective Gender-based Violence (GBV) Interventions" on September 25, 2023, attended by around 500 participants from 40 countries. The event included four sessions focused on improving GBV programs, trends in M&E tools, case studies, and practical insights. The Webinar underscored the importance of setting clear objectives, choosing appropriate measurement methods, and efficiently collecting and analyzing data. It emphasized deriving meaningful evaluation results to facilitate stakeholder communication and enhance program effectiveness.

The Webinar featured expert lectures from Ms. Vu Phuong Ly of the UN Women Center of Excellence for Gender Equality, Dr. Mi Jeong Lee from the Korean Women’s Development Institute, and Ms. Amanda Bangura from Social Development Direct, UK. They provided an overview of GBV issues, including physical, emotional, and economic violence, as well as early and forced marriages and sex trafficking. They also highlighted the high incidence of harassment faced by women in the Asia-Pacific region and stressed the importance of achieving gender equality by 2030, as outlined in the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Prevention strategies included regional radio programs and responses to abused women.

Speakers also delved into M&E practices, emphasizing the importance of designing indicators for outputs, outcomes, and impacts and ensuring ethical considerations in data collection. They also highlighted best practices, using the Sunflower Center in Korea as a case study, where regular evaluations aim to improve victim support services. Speakers presented recommendations, reinforcing that M&E is essential for assessing the health and progress of GBV prevention and response programs, ensuring their successful continuation.