Ending violence against women
Violence against women and girls, including in digital spaces, is one of the most pervasive human rights violations worldwide, affecting one in three women across their lifetime. It undermines their dignity, security, health, and autonomy, posing a significant barrier to gender equality.
It impacts families, communities, and societies, carries tremendous costs, and undermines national and international security.
Rooted in gender inequality, harmful social norms, and power differences, violence against women and girls occurs in all countries and communities. Yet it is often hidden due to stigma, underreporting, and a lack of trust in institutions. This leaves many survivors without adequate protection or support.
Every woman and girl has the right to live free from violence, participate fully in society, and contribute to shaping equitable and resilient futures.
Eliminating violence against women and girls is a central commitment of the Beijing Platform for Action, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and multiple international human rights instruments. It is a moral imperative and a prerequisite for peaceful, just, and prosperous societies.
This section of the knowledge portal explores core topics in ending all forms of violence against women and girls. Aimed at informing activists and advocates, it presents strategies, resources, and experiences.
Ending violence by making links
Violence against women and girls has multiple drivers and takes many forms, including intimate partner violence, sexual harassment, harmful practices, femicide, and technology-facilitated violence.
No single intervention can eliminate it. Five interlinked areas for action include:
- strengthening global norms, laws, and policies
- investing in prevention
- ensuring quality responses and services
- robust data and research
- support for women’s rights organizations and movements
Progress in each area reinforces the others, creating a comprehensive framework for sustainable change.
