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National governments are the primary duty bearers for addressing violence against women and girls (VAWG). They are vital to creating a positive enabling environment to support systemic change in preventing and responding to VAWG, including the development and implementation of new laws, policies or national action plans, and the sustained allocation of financial resources. Political leaders can also play a key role in the process of shifting social norms by speaking out to condemn VAWG, discrimination and gender inequality, and galvanising action around the issue. Conversely, national…

Civil society organisations (CSOs), especially feminist and women’s rights organisations (WROs), play a critical role in ending violence against women and girls (VAWG). CSOs working on VAWG vary in size, focus and approach, and include national and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs), women’s rights organisations (WROs), community-based organisations, faith-based organisations, social movements, and labour unions. These organisations often have deep expertise in the contexts in which they work and strong understanding - based on extensive practice-based experience - of what is…

Ending violence against women and girls (VAWG) cannot be achieved by one entity alone. It requires a collaborative effort that brings together diverse expertise, sectors, experience and influence. Multi-stakeholder partnerships leverage the unique expertise, resources and capacities of each partner to achieve change at scale. Establishing and strengthening such partnerships with a diverse range of stakeholders, especially with civil society and women’s movements, is key for sustainable impact. Multi-stakeholder partnerships can also help shift the balance of power from international…

Globally, most violence against women and girls (VAWG) is perpetrated by men and boys. In many contexts, dominant norms around the roles and appropriate behaviour of men and women are used to underpin and justify men’s perpetration of VAWG. These commonly include expectations that men should be dominant, and women should be submissive, and that men should control and “correct” women’s behaviour. In some contexts, violence is seen as an acceptable means to achieve this. Girls and boys learn these expectations as they grow up through both experience and observation at home, at school and in the…

The private sector can be a strategic partner in addressing violence against women and girls (VAWG). Engaging the private sector provides an opportunity to address discriminatory behaviours, social norms and practices that reinforce VAWG and gender inequality in the world of work, as well as within wider communities. Businesses can also play a pivotal role in reaching a wide audience through corporate networks and consumer outreach. Partnerships with the private sector can also help fund and support initiatives, including by tapping into their willingness to provide funding for social justice…

Religion and tradition play a key role in shaping socio-cultural norms and people’s beliefs, behaviours and everyday lives across the world. In many cases, social expectations about the appropriate roles and behaviours of men and women are shaped by interpretations of religious texts and community traditions. Traditional and faith leaders are also extremely influential actors in many communities and contexts globally. They are often highly trusted and respected community leaders, with large networks of followers and the ability to contribute to large-scale social action and transformation. For…

The careful selection of implementing partners is fundamental to the success and sustainability of programming on violence against women and girls (VAWG). It directly influences the programme’s ability to engage effectively, to ensure quality implementation in line with the design, to adapt to changing circumstances, and to achieve transformative change. It is important to consider the diversity of implementing partners working on VAWG - including international and national NGOs, government and UN agencies, civil society organisations (CSO), women’s rights organisations (WRO), research…

Strengthening the skills, knowledge and experience of partners is a vital step in improving programme effectiveness and addressing power imbalances that often sideline local and grassroots organisations from opportunities. It is important to design capacity building programmes collaboratively, involving the organisations and people they are intended to support. Capacity building efforts must recognise the expertise, needs and priorities of local organisations, rather than be based on assumptions about what local organisations “lack”. When developed in consultation with partners and focused on…

Adolescent girls are often at heightened risk of violence. In adolescence, defined internationally as the period from 10-19 years, girls continue to face forms of violence typical among younger children, such as harsh discipline, while also experiencing types of violence more commonly associated with adult women, like partner violence, early marriage, female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) and sexual exploitation. However, programmes on violence against women and violence against children often fail to address adolescent girls’ unique needs. Yet adolescence is a promising entry point for…

Working with the media provides a unique opportunity for programmes to work at scale to increase awareness of violence against women and girls (VAWG) and address and challenge societal attitudes and norms which drive it. With careful planning and content, the media can amplify important messages to change norms and behaviour, encourage dialogue, and help influence legislation and public policy. However, this needs to be done carefully to avoid reinforcing harmful social norms that contribute to gender inequality and VAWG through stereotypical representations. It is important for media…