Summary of the Report: Violence Against Women and Girls
This report, released ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls (November 25th), presents the most complete study to date on the prevalence of violence against women, analyzing data from 168 countries between 2000 and 2023. It reveals a deeply neglected crisis with a critically underfunded response, despite mounting evidence of effective prevention strategies.
Key Findings:
* Prevalence: Violence against women is widespread and lifelong,impacting women in all countries,but disproportionately affecting those in least-developed,conflict-affected,and climate-vulnerable settings (e.g., 38% prevalence of intimate partner violence in Oceania, compared to a global average of 11%). 16% of adolescent girls (15-19) experienced physical/sexual violence from an intimate partner in the past year.
* consequences: Violence leads to unintended pregnancies, STIs, and depression, highlighting the importance of sexual and reproductive health services for survivors.
* Funding Crisis: Funding for violence prevention initiatives is decreasing at a time when risks are increasing due to humanitarian emergencies, technological shifts, and socio-economic inequality.In 2022, only 0.2% of global development aid was allocated to prevention programs,and funding is projected to fall further in 2025.
* Data Gaps: While more countries are collecting data, critically important gaps remain, notably regarding non-partner sexual violence, marginalized groups (indigenous women, migrants, women with disabilities), and fragile/humanitarian settings.
Positive Developments & Examples:
* Increased Data Collection: More countries are gathering data to inform policies.
* National Action Plans: ecuador, Liberia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uganda have developed costed national action plans, leading to some domestic financing.
* Cambodia: Implementing a national project to update legislation,improve service delivery,and leverage digital solutions for prevention.
Call to Action:
The report urges decisive government action and funding to:
* Scale up evidence-based prevention programs.
* Strengthen survivor-centered health, legal, and social services.
* Invest in data systems to track progress and reach at-risk groups.
* Enforce laws and policies empowering women and girls.
The report is accompanied by the updated RESPECT Women framework for violence prevention. The overall message is a plea for commitment and action to end violence against women and girls, emphasizing that silence and inaction are no longer acceptable.
