25th November: For eradicating the violence against women

Today, November 25th, on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, Mumbai Smiles wants to share how our project has evolved to address this problem at its root causes. It’s been a learning journey that has taken us from working solely with victims to involving the entire community in a process of social transformation.

The starting point: listening to women

When we began the Gender Violence Prevention Project, we did what seemed most obvious: work directly with women. We sat down with them, listened to their stories, understood their daily struggles and the violence they faced. It was the necessary first step, but we soon realized it wasn’t enough.

Addressing the consequences of gender violence is fundamental, but if we wanted to generate real and lasting change, we needed to go further. We had to attack the roots of the problem: gender discrimination and the stereotypical roles that perpetuate violence generation after generation.

Educating from Childhood: Sowing Equality

So we decided to start at the beginning: working with the girls and boys in our communities. We began developing awareness sessions to break down stereotypes and prejudices, to unlearn and learn what equality truly means.

It’s not just about transmitting knowledge, but about understanding how these issues are perceived from a young age. We wanted to know their ideas, their learned prejudices, their doubts. Because it is in those early years that many of the stereotypes that later perpetuate gender-based violence are formed.

“And who will explain this to my husband?”

But in our conversations with the women, the same question always came up, again and again: “I understand, but who will explain this to my husband?”

That seemingly simple question held an uncomfortable truth: we could empower women, we could educate children, but if we didn’t involve adult men in this conversation, the change would be partial and incomplete. The women returned home and found themselves facing the same patriarchal structures, the same rigid roles, the same power dynamics.

So we asked ourselves a question that changed the course of the project: why not talk directly to the men about these issues?

Incorporating men: a necessary change

This year we took that step. So, out of the 986 people who have participated in our sessions, 167 were men. We began working with men in the community, creating spaces for dialogue about gender, violence, and masculinity. And the beginning has been promising.

The key has been the approach: we try to avoid judgment and accusations. We arrive with the intention of listening, of understanding their perspectives, of learning how they experience the patriarchal system. And the whole process has been very revealing.

Many men have begun to speak openly about the impact that patriarchal traditions have had on their lives: the pressure to be the sole breadwinner, the prohibition against showing emotions, the obligation to wield an authority they sometimes don’t know how to manage, and emotional isolation. These conversations are allowing us to build alliances for change and to advance toward our main goal.

The goal: a life free from violence and with dignity.

The objective of our Project has always been clear: to liberate women from all forms of violence and help them live a dignified life, with true equality in their homes and in public spaces. Gender-based violence is not a women’s issue. It is a social, structural problem that requires a collective response.

A 365-day commitment

On this International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, we want to remind everyone that our work is not limited to a symbolic date. Every day of the year, our team works in the most vulnerable communities, facilitating dialogue, educating, supporting victims, challenging gender roles, and building support networks.

This year in Mumbai, we have intervened in 11 cases, offering legal support and advice, reporting cases of abuse and preventing child marriages.

Social change is slow; it requires patience, strategy and the ability to evolve. And at Mumbai Smiles, we remain committed to every step of that journey toward true equality.