Shining a Light on Progress: the Fight Against Gender-Based Violence

The figures are staggering. 

An estimated 736 million women have been subjected to physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both at least once in their life.  

Over 230 million girls and women around the world have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM). 

In times of conflict, women and girls account for more than 95% of the total 3,622 UN-verified cases of conflict-related sexual violence that are reported. 

Less than 40% of the women who experience violence seek help of any sort.  

Less than 1% of government aid over 2021 to 2022 was dedicated to ending violence against women and girls. 

As devastating as these statistics are, they do not tell the whole story. In the fight against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), there are victories to celebrate and support. Significant efforts are being made to address and combat gender-based violence around the world.  

In the fight against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), there are victories to celebrate and support

From legal reforms to grassroots activism and international cooperation, the fight against GBV is making a difference and offering valuable lessons in resilience and the power of collective action.  

As part of CTG’s Together for Better Campaign, we’re shining a spotlight on these four examples of transformative action that show us what’s possible in the fight to end violence against women and girls. 

The path to ending female genital mutilation

FGM remains a widespread practice affecting millions of women and girls. Despite global efforts to eliminate it, FGM continues to pose serious health risks, violate human rights and reinforce gender inequality. According to UNICEF, over 4 million girls are subjected to FGM every year.  

Creating grassroots change with the #BornPerfect Caravan

© #FrontlineEndingFGM. The #BornPerfect Caravan began the tour of Africa in May 2024. *

Despite its prevalence, countless global actors are still fighting to eliminate FGM. Though progress is slow, change is happening.  

For example, the #BornPerfect Caravan – a grassroots initiative from #FrontlineEndingFGM – in 2024 embarked on a two-year journey across Africa, where FGM is particularly prevalent, to campaign for an end to the practice. The caravan tours villages, hosting activists, medical professionals, and religious leaders, showing documentaries, and offering counselling to community members.  

The caravan campaign is supported by ongoing localised media messaging backed by religious leaders. #FrontlineEndingFGM’s research suggests this approach helped reduce the acceptance rate of FGM from 89% to 5% after three years in Tana River, Kenya.  

The #BornPerfect message tells the world that every girl is born perfect, and must not be mutilated, forced into child marriage or suffer any form of physical abuse.

Using technology to tackle GBV

Although technology has been extensively used in the perpetration of GBV, a global trend of harnessing technology in the fight against GBV is growing.

Smartphone apps create avenues for survivors and allies to access support services. *

Gathering GBV data

Activists and organisations are using mobile digital technologies – smart phones and tablets in particular – and new research software applications to collect data for GBV assessments and to monitor and evaluate GBV programmes in humanitarian settings. 

For example, in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ethiopia, the IRC/Columbia University COMPASS project used Audio-Computer Assisted Self-Interview (ACASI) software on tablets to collect information on GBV experiences of displaced adolescent girls in conflict-afflicted areas.  

ACASI is a data collection method which enables participants to listen to pre-recorded questions through headphones and respond by selecting their answers on a touch screen or keypad. Through this method, it was found that girls disclosed more information about GBV perpetrated within the family and household than in face-to-face interviews.  

Providing easier access to support

Smartphone apps connect victims of GBV with locally available support services, facilitating safety planning and providing direct access to trained professionals.  

For example, the Toranj app in Iran is designed to connect survivors of intimate partner violence with the resources and support they need to be safe in crisis situations, and after. Similarly, Safe YOU, an app used in Iraq, is designed to empower and protect women and girls from violence by providing access to emergency assistance and raising awareness on key gender issues. 

Tracking patterns to raise awareness

Mapping software and applications are also being used in many countries to document, map and publicise GBV incidents and patterns. HarassMap, for example, uses an interactive online map, social media, and mobile phones to map and publicise incidents of sexual harassment. Their goal is to raise awareness of GBV and encourage reporting. 

Working together to fund peace

The United Nations Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) partnered with local women’s rights and civil society organisations to support almost 100 projects that aim to prevent or respond to violations of women and girls’ rights and sexual and gender-based violence (SBGV).   

The projects are based in 13 crisis- and conflict-affected countries across the Middle East, Europe, Africa and Asia. WPHF prioritises working with local women’s organisations as they are often best placed to foster transformative and sustainable change to achieve peace and gender equality in conflict and crisis-affected contexts. 

These initiatives have directly reached 198,986 people (67.1% women and girls) and indirectly benefited 2.1 million people at local, regional and national levels. The WPHF also partnered with the Spotlight Initiative to channel funding into civil society organisations working on eliminating SGBV in the D.R.C, Malawi, Nigeria, Haiti, and Papua New Guinea. 

© Spotlight Initiative. Channelling funding to local women’s organisations fosters sustainable change. *

What funding can achieve

Examples of programme successes include:  

• The ‘Good Samaritan Organisation’ in Ethiopia, which provided medical and post-trauma counselling for 211 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and survivors of SGBV living in conflict affected areas in Amhara Region.  
• Association d’Appui au Développement Local au Sahel (ADEL Sahel), an organisation based in Mali, has witnessed community members that have been outwardly denouncing violence against women and girls following the establishment of a community committee on gender equality and GBV prevention, alert, referral and protection mechanisms. 
• Women’s rights organisations working in Afghanistan have enabled over 26,500 women and girls in the country to access SGBV services. 

Combating violence against women and girls in Ukraine

Conflict and displacement affect women in unique ways and, as research suggests, increase the risk of abuse. Where systems of government have broken down and justice is difficult to access, women and girls are also at greater risk of being subjected to sexual violence as a tactic of war, torture or terrorism. 

In Ukraine, for example, GBV and combat-related sexual violence (CRSV) are considered the ‘hidden front’ of the ongoing war. While it is hard to confirm numbers during a period of conflict, particularly of CRSV, the stats are pointing to a GBV crisis in Ukraine. As of September 2023, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) estimated that 3.6 million people needed GBV prevention and response services in Ukraine. 

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) estimated that 3.6 million people needed GBV prevention and response services in Ukraine.

Providing support to GBV and CSVR survivors

In the face of this crisis, countless local and international organisations are working to tackle GBV, offering emotional and educational support to women, girls, and men. Non-governmental organisation Green-Landiya, working in Kharkiv city, expanded their psychological and social support operation. Their team includes professionals who support those seeking psycho-emotional stability, the development of physical activity, personal growth, and economic sustainability. 

Over 191,500 women, girls, men and boys also received tailored GBV prevention, mitigation, and response services from the UNFPA between January and March 2024. 

Ukraine is facing a crisis of GBV and CRSV. *

Creating Survivor Relief Centres

Local and state authorities in Ukraine are also beginning to address GBV. In June 2022, Ukraine ratified the Istanbul Convention, a Council of Europe human rights treaty on the prevention of violence against women. The Ukrainian government, alongside UNFPA, set up Survivor Relief Centres where specialists provide comprehensive assistance in cases of conflict-related sexual violence. 

Together for the better

Together, these movements remind us of the significant strides that are being made in the fight against gender-based violence – but also that the fight is far from over. Every individual, company, organisation, and government has a role to play in making GBV a thing of the past.  

Find out what you can do to help end violence against women and girls here.

Learn more about the issues and how individuals and organisations are making progress in ending gender-based violence. 

• TOGETHER FOR BETTER: 16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM AGAINST GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE 
• 4 CHANGEMAKERS FIGHTING AGAINST GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE