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ZUG, SWITZERLAND - [18th June 2025] – Swiss NPO PEAK15health has agreed to launch a pioneering education programme with UN Women in Ecuador on community empowerment and mental resilience in the battle against Gender Based Violence (GBV). The initiative is due to begin later in 2025.
The two agencies warn that there is a growing prevalence of GBV and a pressing need to implement novel community-based methods to address the problem. Central to the scheme is a measure to provide remote communities with public health expertise from leading academic institutions from all over the world. The initiative will be adapted to local needs and operates by empowering non-health expert local community health leaders.
The collaboration will leverage PEAK15health's innovative digital and educational approach towards healthcare alongside UN Women’s expertise in GBV prevention. It’s hoped that the end-result will be a transformative initiative that fosters positive behavioural change within communities affected by GBV.
"We are incredibly excited to join forces with UN Women in Ecuador on this crucial endeavour," PEAK15health Founder & CEO Dr. Pascal H. Dowling said.
"By combining our unique strengths, we can develop a truly sustainable and impactful programme that will empower individuals and communities to break free from the corrosive cycle of GBV, " PEAK15health Co-Founder & COO Laura Palma said.
The project will centre around training local community health leaders who will provide mental resilience education and essential skills to GBV survivors and women and children deemed to be at risk.
“These leaders will become catalysts for change within their communities, creating a ripple effect of positive transformation and long-term resilience to overcome more rapidly changing environments” Dr. Dowling said.
UN Women also welcomed the partnership which it said should provide communities with the purpose to tackle the scourge of GBV. "We are deeply committed to collaborating with partners in the field who are dedicated to addressing the root causes of GBV and the prevention of femicide as its most extreme expression" said Mrs. Alison Vasconez R. UN Women Ecuador office a.i. representative. "This partnership with PEAK15health will enable us to reach more individuals with vital education and support services, making a tangible difference in their lives."
The project incorporates a blended learning model, ensuring that community health leaders receive continual training and support on gender based violence prevention and identification of potential risks for women, as they educate their neighbours.
“Involving women and other grass-roots organisations in the process will guarantee the long-term sustainability and effectiveness of the programme,” said Mrs. Vasconez About PEAK15health PEAK15health is a Swiss non-profit organization dedicated to improving public health knowledge worldwide. It uses pioneering methodology and leading technology solutions to locally co-develop practical and relevant educational programmes for communities across diverse geographies, empowering them to overcome existing and future health-related challenges.
About UN Women UN Women is the United Nations entity for gender equality and the empowerment of women. As a leading advocate for women and girls globally, the agency was established to accelerate progress in meeting their needs and realising their full potential.
Contact: PEAK15health Media & Press Email: media@peak15health.org