The first step to ending violence against women and girls is recognising that we all have a role to play. Whether it’s educating yourself, practising critical thinking or standing up to harmful attitudes, every action counts.
Here are four tangible actions you can take to use your sphere of influence to help end violence against women and girls and create a safer, better world for everyone, everywhere.
Everyone has the responsibility to educate themselves and others on the reality of GBV. *
1. Learn: educate yourself and others
The signs of violence against women are not always obvious. Gender-based violence (GBV) can take many forms and have many different impacts. Often, it’s hidden and remains unreported.
To make a difference, you need to understand what GBV is, how you might be able to spot it and what you can do to support those affected. And once you have gained this knowledge, you have the power to amplify impact by educating others.
Ready to learn? There are many resources that are easy to access and share. For example, online courses are freely available and offer a great place to start. Platforms such as Kaya provide a broad variety of free courses on the topic. You can also visit UN websites which host a range of helpful resources on GBV, such as:
- Types of violence against women and girls
- The signs of relationship abuse and how to help
- Five things to know about consent
2. Question: challenge gender stereotypes
Gender stereotypes perpetuate harmful understandings and attitudes, fuel discrimination and legitimise the use of violence against women and girls. The Office of the United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) defines gender stereotypes as a “generalised view or preconception about attributes or characteristics, or the roles that are or ought to be possessed by, or performed by, women and men.”
It is important to understand that gender stereotypes are not only harmful to women, but also to men.
Gender stereotypes perpetuate harmful understandings and attitudes, fuel discrimination and legitimise the use of violence against women and girls.
Challenging gender stereotypes is essential in the fight against GBV. *
When you hear something that may be expressing a gender stereotype, question it. This is an essential step in challenging stereotypes, encouraging critical thinking and opening minds to differences.
Sometimes it can be difficult to identify gender stereotypes because they are often deeply woven into worldviews. Here are some examples of harmful stereotypes and generalisations:
- “Women are caregivers, men are providers”
- “Women are emotional, men are not”
- “Women are weak, men are strong”
- “Women are peaceful, men are violent”
If you think about the people you know, would you say that these statements are 100% accurate? Or do they reduce individuals to an idea that doesn’t fit?
Stereotypes like these overlook differences in experiences, strengths and hopes for both men and women. For example, many men are primary caregivers who look after their children or relatives, and many women are the breadwinners for their families. Gender stereotypes limit the opportunities available to both men and women and prevent them from living life the way they want to.
By questioning these stereotypes, you can shift mindsets, break free from social expectations, encourage understanding and respect, and help build more equal societies that benefit everyone.
3. Speak: address or report harmful behaviour
Many instances of GBV go unaddressed and unreported. When you notice harmful behaviour, you can speak up by reporting it or – if you feel it is safe to do so – intervening.
Challenging harmful behaviour is a critical step in addressing GBV, because it shows your support for those affected and can encourage perpetrators to reflect on their actions. All individuals, men and women, can speak up against harmful behaviour.
All individuals, men and women, can speak up against harmful behaviour.
Challenging harmful behaviour is a critical step in addressing GBV. *
Whether at work, in a social setting or online, addressing harmful behaviour is crucial for building a safer environment for everyone. To report it, you could reach out to a trusted supervisor, your company’s Human Resources department, or if outside of work, an appropriate authority.
Where that is not possible, you may be required to address it directly. The UN Women website provides this manual for bystander intervention, which sets out helpful guidance on how to safely respond to harmful behaviour, including violence.
If you are a CTG stakeholder and suspect, witness or experience any form of violence, please report it immediately. You can do so by contacting our Ethics Committee anonymously at ethics@ctg.org.
4. Listen: respect and promote health relationship
You can make a difference in your own relationships. By listening, showing empathy and striving to create environments where people feel safe enough to share their thoughts and concerns without fear of reprisal, you can build respectful, healthy relationships.
Demonstrating kindness, empathy and fairness in all your interactions, both in public and in private, encourages others to do the same.
If everyone feels heard and respected, it allows for better understanding of personal boundaries and consent, in turn helping to prevent misunderstandings or violations. Treating everyone fairly, regardless of gender, race or background, helps to build inclusive environments where all people feel safe and supported. It’s an easy thing to do, and it can make a monumental difference.
Together for better: act now to end violence against women and girls
We all have a role to play in ending violence against women and girls, because every action we take, no matter how small, helps to make a difference. By educating ourselves, challenging stereotypes, speaking up against harmful behaviour and building relationships that are founded on respect, we can create a world where violence is not tolerated.
IF YOU THINK SOMEONE IS ABUSING YOU, HELP IS AVAILABLE. IF YOU’D LIKE TO SPEAK TO A TRAINED ADVOCATE, UN WOMEN HAS COMPILED A LIST OF RESOURCES FROM ACROSS THE WORLD WHICH YOU CAN ACCESS HERE.
*These photos are for the purpose of illustration only. Persons featured in the photos are not necessarily survivors of GBV.