Group of Friends for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls calls for investment in the prevention of gender-based violence

NEW YORK, United States - On 11 March, 2024, The Group of Friends for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls held a high-level Side Event during the 68th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The event, ‘Investing in the prevention of violence against women and girls’, was in line with the theme of this year’s CSW: Accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective.

The discussion aimed to outline the importance of investing in preventive measures that address violence against women and girls; share experiences of ongoing prevention efforts and good practices at the local, national, regional and international level; and to advance discussions on how the UN and Member States may further promote investment in preventive efforts from across all sectors in society to fulfil the goal of ending all forms of violence against women and girls by 2030.

The discussion was moderated by United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, Melissa Fleming and featured high-level representatives from the European Union (EU), United Nations (UN) and Governments. 

“The European Union made the tackling of violence against women and girls a top priority,” said Dr. Helena Dalli, the European Union’s First Commissioner for Equality in her opening address.

“The European Union made the tackling of violence against women and girls a top priority.” - EU Commissioner for Equality, Dr. Helena Dalli

“I am proud that the first comprehensive EU law to prevent and combat violence against women and girls and domestic violence is in the final stages of adoption.” She added that the law ensures the same high level of prevention, care and services to survivors across the EU.

She also expressed pride that Spotlight Initiative, launched with 500 million euros of seed funding from the EU, had been selected as one of the UN’s High-impact Initiatives contributing to the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals.

UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed thanked the EU for its partnership and leadership, and reflected on the shadow of violence that hangs over women and girls globally and their heightened vulnerability during crises.

“The world continues to be a dangerous place for women and girls, whether at home, work, school or play; in times of peace and times of conflict; or when disaster strikes,” she said. Ms. Mohammed echoed the Secretary-General’s call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the unconditional release of all hostages, stating, “women and girls cannot continue to bear the brunt of wars waged by men.”

"The world continues to be a dangerous place for women and girls ... The good news is that we have a way forward." - UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed

Ms. Mohammed continued: “In the face of these dangers, we confront another stark reality, our efforts and investments to prevent gender-based violence have not been sufficient to turn the tide.

“The good news is that we have a way forward. Through our partnership with the EU, Member States and civil society organizations, Spotlight Initiative has made targeted investments in preventing violence across more than 25 countries, totalling more than $90 million – the Initiative’s largest share of allocations.”

She said that Spotlight Initiative had shown that comprehensive models to end violence against women and girls are up to 90 per cent more effective than other approaches. 

A panel discussion followed, in which UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous called violence against women and girls a “global emergency” and implored states to urgently increase the amount of official development assistance funds allocated to prevention. 

“We must take, together, decisive action and increase investments across all sectors." - UN Women Executive Director, Sima Bahous

“We must take, together, decisive action and increase investments across all sectors. We can stem the tide of violence by enacting and enforcing laws, implementing evidence-based comprehensive policies, bolstering financing and support for women’s rights organizations who always have played a pivotal role working on the frontlines to deliver much needed policy,” said Ms. Bahous.

She highlighted encouraging initiatives, including Generation Equality, commended countries dedicating budgets towards stemming gender-based violence, and said that the EU’s unprecedented investment in Spotlight Initiative had spurred the UN to work together to reach millions of girls and women around the world.

President of the Ford Foundation, Darren Walker, said that the issue of violence against women and girls was personal to him. "as a 4-year-old boy living in a poor, rural, racist community in Texas … my first memory of my mother was of her being beaten.” 

“Eliminating GBV takes long-term commitment, not just three-year grant cycles.” - President of the Ford Foundation, Darren Walker

He said that this informed his work at the Foundation and that the prevention of gender-based violence is at the core of the Ford Foundation’s strategy for gender, racial and ethnic justice and that “eliminating GBV takes long-term commitment, not just three-year grant cycles”.

Mr. Walker was followed by Nayana Chowdhury, Senior Director of Breakthrough Trust, an India-based civil society organization that aims to make gender-based violence unacceptable through transforming culture.

“A gender normative culture limits the potential of all genders,” said Ms. Chowdhury. She emphasized the need for gender transformative school education as a tool for breaking the cycle of violence.

Members of the Group of Friends were then invited to share their progress on and commitment to the elimination of violence. 

“A gender normative culture limits the potential of all genders.” - Senior Director of Breakthrough Trust, Nayana Chowdhury

Minister of Human Services and Social Security of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, Ms. Vindhya Persaud, said that many of the gains made under Spotlight Initiative's Guyana programme had continued.

“Post-Spotlight, we have managed to sustain our efforts by absorbing and catering for all of the initiatives started under Spotlight Initiative, making it a more national architecture so that we continue to work for the safety of all women and girls and our country remains committed to that sustained efforts going forward,” she said. 

Interventions were also delivered by Minister of Solidarity, Social Integration and the Family of the Kingdom of Morocco, Ms. Aawatif Hayar; Minister of Family and Social Services of Türkiye, Ms. Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş; Minister of Labor and Social Protection of Mongolia, Ms. Bulgantuya Khurelbaatar; Prime Minister of Sint Maarten of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Ms. Silveria Jacobs.

"We have managed to sustain our efforts by absorbing and catering for all of the initiatives started under Spotlight Initiative." - Guyana's Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Vindhya Persaud

They were followed by Minister of Gender Equality and Diversity of Luxembourg, Ms. Yuriko Backes; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Education and Sport of Liechtenstein, Ms. Dominique Hasler; Minister of Family, Inclusion and Social Development of Cabo Verde, Mr. Fernando Elisio Freire; Minister of Equality of the Republic of Poland, Ms. Katarzyna Kotula; Minister for Women, Minister for Finance, and Minister for the Public Service of Australia, Senator Katy Gallagher; and Minister of Women from the Dominican Republic, H.E. Ms. Mayra Jiménez.