As part of the AJAN program, the Programme Santé et Famille (PSF) being undertaken by Centre Arrupe-Madagascar, places the family at the centre of prevention, protection, and social well-being, promoting dignity, dialogue, and shared responsibility. In line with its expanded mandate since 2019 to address violence against girls and women, PSF continues to strengthen evidence-based responses within Catholic institutions. It is against this background that, on December 16, 2025, a panel of experts met to enhance the scientific quality of research conducted by the PRD (Regional Development Project) on the effectiveness of practices for addressing situations of violence within Catholic institutions in Madagascar. The meeting aimed to critically analyze the methodological choices, the results obtained, and their alignment with the initial objectives of the study.

The research employs a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews with leaders of Catholic organizations, including schools, parishes, and community centers. Data were collected from recognized institutional sources, although access to some key stakeholders, particularly at the Direction InterDiocésaine de l’Enseignement Catholique (DIDEC) (Interdiocesan Directorate of Catholic Education ), was limited. The experts emphasized the need to specify the characteristics of the respondents, the criteria for including organizations, and to distinguish between violence experienced within these institutions and violence addressed by the organizations themselves.

Critical analysis of the results revealed the existence of support mechanisms, but their effectiveness remains difficult to assess, particularly due to a significant reliance on the perceptions of institutional actors. A tendency to reduce violence to its sexual dimension and the normalization of certain forms of violence were also highlighted, underscoring the limitations of the current approach.

The discussion of the hypotheses focused on hypothesis 3, which was deemed insufficiently conceptually framed. The experts recommended reformulating it to clearly distinguish the objective effectiveness of institutional practices from the subjective perceptions of the actors, thus ensuring a more rigorous and precise analysis.

The scientific recommendations made at the meeting focused on several key points: reviewing the alignment between objectives, research questions and hypotheses; integrating a differentiated analysis of gender bias; clearly distinguishing between schools and social centers; and mobilizing relevant normative references, including canon law and papal documents.

At the heart of the discussions, the strategic question remains: are current practices for addressing situations of violence within Catholic institutions truly effective and adapted to the needs of victims? This question will guide the next stages of the research and inform the recommendations to be implemented to improve the protection of vulnerable people.

In conclusion, the December 2025 meeting of the expert panel strengthened the scientific rigor of the study conducted by the PSF. It clarified the main areas of focus, highlighted current methodological limitations, and proposed concrete avenues for optimizing the evaluation and effectiveness of violence prevention practices within Catholic institutions in Madagascar.

By, The Communication Team,

Centre Arrupe Madagascar (CA-MDG).