one important policy measure is the secretariat of the interior s ability to issue gender alerts which oblige authorities to implement measures that protect women s rights and physical security conduct more comprehensive investigations into acts of vaw and increase efforts to address the problem in areas where violence is prevalent the gender alerts send a strong statement about the severity of the problem these multipurpose antiviolence centres are intended to offer psychological legal and medical care temporary shelter and consultation with child development experts the centres also often offer workshops on social and economic empowerment to help women break the cycle of violence and start a selfsustainable life free from violence