Please be advised that these resources contain mentions of gender-based violence (GBV), intimate partner violence (IPV), domestic violence, sexual assault and harassment, economic abuse, conflict-related violence, trauma, and harm. As you engage with these resources, we encourage you to take care of yourself in whatever way that is comfortable to you and to seek support as you see fit.
The greatest joy that we have is that we have seen a paradigm shift—because survivors have economic independence. Some of them are now even getting into political positions within their communities to become councillors. They become village heads, they become members of Parliament.
“Women return and tell us stories that we can hardly believe are possible. . . . [This impact] cannot be quantified in numbers . . . because it has also translated into the well-being of their children. They have seen that they can transform the idea that there must be someone . . . who controls their lives, who controls their resources, who controls what they want to do with them.”
Who better knows how to handle a situation than someone who has gone through it and feels like there is a need?
About This Project
Economic abuse in intimate relationships is a global phenomenon, as is survivors’ need for economic security. The movement to end intimate partner and gender-based violence (GBV) has so much to learn from the expertise and solutions of survivors from the global majority.
At FreeFrom, we know that survivors are not just the best positioned to understand the problem—they’re also the most innovative in creating solutions. In 2022, we embarked on an ambitious international research project, partnering with 22 survivor-led organizations across 19 countries to document how intimate partner violence (IPV) survivors are subjected to economic abuse and to learn from the groundbreaking solutions our partners have developed to build survivors’ economic security.
What we discovered confirms a powerful truth: when we address economic abuse and survivors’ economic security, we forge a path toward ending IPV and GBV. In the most challenging circumstances, our partners have developed proven programs and practices that provide emergency relief, build long-term safety, and change the systems and narratives that perpetuate violence. Their success shows us that a world free from violence is within reach—if we adopt and resource these community-driven approaches.
Our Partners
Our 22 partners span 19 countries across Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Europe.
They serve Indigenous communities, LGBTQIA+ refugees, internally displaced persons, women living in rural areas, migrant women, trans women, factory workers, and others.
Explore our partners’ creative strategies for building communities of care that support survivor healing and economic freedom.
Hover over the interactive map to learn more about our partner organizations, or click “Search Partners” to browse the full directory.
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Innovative Solutions
These building blocks of successful programming support IPV survivors’ economic security.
Our partner organizations are boldly reimagining approaches to economic security and well-being for survivors. Though they operate in vastly different contexts, our analysis revealed (A) six core program types and (B) seven essential best practices that form a cohesive framework for building survivors’ economic security.
When used in tandem, each additional program and practice strengthens the foundation for survivors’ long-term economic security and brings us closer to ending GBV.
Explore our interactive graphic to learn about these building blocks of successful programming that can be adapted and implemented in diverse contexts.
Global strategies for building economic security for survivors.
Dig deeper into our partners’ innovative solutions and get inspired by their stories of impact and resilience—even in the most challenging circumstances.
Thank you to each of our brilliant partners who graciously shared their time, trust, and expertise with us. It is an honor to be in community with you.
We also extend our deepest gratitude to those who championed this project and helped us bring it to fruition:
Oak Foundation Sonya Passi Pam Guerra Julia Uyttewaal
Fayzan Gowani Pilar Victoria Kirkley Doyle Tannia Ventura
Veronica Valencia Gonzalez Selina Palm Sarah Lawrence Brand by Boudica
Enrique Pérez Rosiles Ambar Briastuti
Additional Resources and Media
For U.S.-based resources and insights to end GBV, check out these FreeFrom reports.
