Welcome to Part 2 of our June 2025 Inspirational Interview with Binita Shrestha, Senior Associate at the Prevention Collaborative.
Binita is an international development practitioner with 20 years of experience in social and behaviour change (SBC) programming, social norms, life skills, and violence prevention across Asia and the Middle East. Over the past decade, Binita has focussed extensively on violence prevention, designing and implementing programmes on intimate partner violence prevention and providing technical accompaniment and mentorship to a diverse range of partners, including women’s rights organisations, adolescent focussed programmes, faith-based institutions and the UN, ensuring evidence-based, high-quality implementation of violence prevention programmes.
In this part of the interview, Binita discusses the impact the Prevention Collaborative had had on efforts to end violence against women around the world and looks ahead to the organisation’s plans for the next five years.
Part 1 of Binita’s interview was published 1 June, 2025.
All photos are courtesy of Prevention Collaborative.
6. Over the years, what sort of impact has the Prevention Collaborative had on stopping violence against women across the world?
Over the years, I’ve seen how the Collaborative has shaped the global conversation and practice around violence prevention, especially around strengthening capacity among practitioners. Our offerings have given so many of us access to practical tools, grounded in evidence, that we can actually use in our day-to-day work.
What I also really appreciate is the strong emphasis we have on integrating research with real-world experience, which helps ensure that what we’re promoting actually works.
And then there’s the collaboration piece, which I think is so central. The Collaborative brings together such a wide range of actors — from grassroots organisations to government partners — creating a space for mutual learning, contributing to a shared vision and strengthening the global movement.
So, for me, being part of this work has meant not just being better informed, but also feeling like I’m part of a bigger, coordinated push to create meaningful change.
7. One of the keys to eradicating VAW is to get men and boys on board efforts to do so. What do you think are the most effective ways of galvanising men and boys to help to end VAW?
Engaging men and boys in efforts to end violence against women is essential, yet complex. In my view, a key strategy is personalising the issue to help men see its impact on women and girls they care about. Appealing to shared values like fairness and human rights can build empathy, while showing that gender equality benefits everyone, including men and boys.
Meeting men where they are through relatable language and entry points makes engagement more meaningful. This involves offering clear everyday actions and creating safe spaces for reflection and peer support. These small consistent acts add up. It’s also vital to avoid treating this work as a separate stream. ‘Gender-synchronised’ programming that includes both men and women in shared spaces like homes, schools, and workplaces is more impactful.
Finally, I would say, this work must stay grounded in feminist principles, ensuring women’s voices and leadership remain central throughout.
8. Tell us about the Prevention Collaborative’s plans for the future. What campaigns, programmes, or projects do you have coming up in the next 5 years?
It would be remiss not to recognise that currently we are in a period of flux in this funding landscape. As such, we are using this time to develop a new strategy that adapts to what this means to us, not only as an organisation, but also to the wider field of violence prevention.
Along with continuing with our core offerings in capacity strengthening and evidence and influencing work over the next five years, we are taking time to look at new needs and potential shifts in emphasis that can further strengthen violence prevention programming.
9. How can The Pixel Project’s supporters engage with and support the efforts of the Prevention Collaborative to stop violence against women?
I know it’s a tough time for all of us working to end violence against women. With the funding freezes and uncertainty across the sector, it can feel really demoralising. But I also think this could be a moment to regroup and prepare for what comes next.
We might not be able to change the current reality overnight, but we can shape how we rebuild when things start moving again. So as a supporter of The Pixel Project or anyone working in the sector, I’d say, use this time to stay connected and keep learning. Enrol in our online courses, learning events, and be a part of our cluster programmes. It’s a way to stay grounded in the work, deepen your understanding, and build relationships. That way, when the field starts gaining momentum again, we’re all ready and equipped with updated knowledge and stronger networks to create lasting change.
10. In your considered opinion, how can we end violence against women for good?
What I’ve learned is that ending violence against women takes long-term, systemic, and collective action. Real change means going beyond individual incidents to transform the beliefs and systems that enable violence. Prevention and response must go hand in hand. For me, prevention starts early by promoting gender-equitable attitudes, healthy relationships, and non-violent expressions of masculinity from a young age. It also means supporting community-led efforts driven by women’s rights organisations. Their leadership must be central, not just recognised but actively supported and resourced.
While laws and policies matter, lasting change depends on making systems like healthcare, education, justice, and media truly gender-responsive and accountable. That’s where real transformation takes root.
Above all, we must hold on to hope. Ending VAW is possible–it demands belief, sustained commitment, and collective courage. If we stay grounded in equality, justice, and human dignity, I believe we can create a world free from violence.
