This study conducted by CARE International in Lao PDR was commissioned by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under the Khan Hom Project supported by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) to contribute to the existing evidence by exploring in further detail the perceptions and beliefs of men in relation to gender-based violence (GBV).

Drawing on key informant interviews, a men’s and women’s survey, and focus group discussions (with a total of 864 study participants), it examined the gendered norms within the household and the community which contribute to acceptance of violence against women in Vientiane, Phongsaly, Oudomxay, and Savannakhet provinces.

The results of this study indicate the importance of understanding male attitudes and perceptions in relation to GBV and how these patriarchal norms contribute to acceptance of violence against women. These insights can inform interventions to engage men and boys in the prevention of GBV and efforts to shift patriarchal norms across all levels of Lao society.