Align with global and regional frameworks

Global and regional frameworks create a critical enabling environment to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls (VAWG) through establishing internationally agreed norms and standards. These frameworks are the result of decades of advocacy by women’s rights movements and have significantly shifted the perception of VAWG from a private issue to a matter of collective concern for states and societies. By framing VAWG as a violation of human rights, global and regional frameworks impose specific obligations on signatory states to protect their citizens and uphold their rights by taking proactive steps to prevent and address violations and provide support and justice for survivors. These frameworks are also a key mechanism for civil society organisations to hold states accountable for their legal and policy responses to end VAWG.

Guiding Principles

Survivor-Centred Approach

Do no harm approach

Leave No One Behind, Equity and Non-Discrimination

Transformative approach

Spotlight Initiative

Approach and Learning

The design of Spotlight Initiative builds on over four decades of global commitments to end VAWG, including the 1979 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the 1993 Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women - as well as key regional conventions such as the 1994 Convention of Belém do Pará in the Americas, the 2003 Maputo Protocol in Africa, and the 2011 Istanbul Convention in Europe. Spotlight Initiative programmes have aligned their work with the provisions of these frameworks using the following approaches:

The Spotlight Initiative Terms of Reference and Global Results Framework build upon global frameworks and are designed to support the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 5 (Gender Equality) and its specific targets related to eliminating all forms of VAWG. To find out more about how Spotlight Initiative is accelerating action to realise different SDGs, read The Spotlight Initiative: An SDG Model Fund.
At a regional level, Spotlight Initiative works within existing regional legal and policy frameworks. For example, the Africa Regional Programme undertook a comprehensive mapping and assessment of laws and policies to develop a Regional Action Plan. See case study below.
At a national level, Spotlight Initiative has supported countries to strengthen their laws and policies to align with global and regional EVAWG frameworks. Through rigorous analysis and advocacy at multiple levels, Spotlight Initiative programmes have contributed to the development or strengthening of 477 laws and policies globally, including 174 in 2022 alone.

Top Tips

How to align with global and regional EVAWG frameworks – top tips based on wider learning in the sector.

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Understand the global and regional frameworks which apply in your context

International and regional frameworks establish norms, guidelines and legal obligations for countries to protect women and girls from violence. By understanding the frameworks focused on gender equality and ending VAWG, programmes can understand which frameworks a country is signatory to, analyse the degree of alignment as well as analyse gaps in national laws, policies and practices that may need advocacy efforts. Read more on how to analyse the national policy, legal and institutional environment.

Some of the most significant international frameworks that increase the protection standards for women and girls include:

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW): Adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly, CEDAW is often described as an international bill of rights for women. CEDAW focuses broadly on eliminating discrimination against women in all forms, which implicitly includes violence against women as a form of discrimination. General Recommendations 12 and 19 clarify that states should report on violence against women.
Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action: Emerging from the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995, this landmark declaration aims to enhance women’s rights and addresses 12 critical areas of concern, including violence against women.
Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women (DEVAW): Adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1993, this declaration defines violence against women and sets out a framework for national and international action.
2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: Adopted in 2015, this agenda includes the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 5, which aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. Target 5.2 specifically focuses on eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls. With its comprehensive theory of change, Spotlight Initiative contributes, directly and indirectly, to all 17 SDGs.

Regional frameworks play an important role in addressing gaps where international agreements may not be sufficient or applicable. Some of the most significant regional frameworks include:

Africa: The Maputo Protocol was adopted in 2003 by the African Union. The official title is the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa. It is a legally binding treaty on women’s rights, with a dedicated article on violence against women as well as references throughout. At present, 11 countries are yet to ratify the treaty. See here for the latest list of countries which have signed/ratified the Maputo Protocol.
The Americas: The Convention of ‘Belem do Para’ was adopted by the Organization of American States in 1994. Also known as the Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Violence against Women, this is a legally binding treaty focusing exclusively on ending VAWG. It is widely ratified, with 32 of the 34 OAS member states ratifying – see here for the latest list of signatories of the Convention of Belem do Para.
Europe: The Istanbul Convention was adopted by the Council of Europe in 2011 and is also known as the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence. It is a legally binding treaty exclusively on violence and women, and widely ratified by the European Union and its member states. It also offers the possibility for accession by non-member states. See here for the latest status of countries that have signed or ratified the Istanbul Convention.
The Asia Pacific and Middle East regions do not currently have pan-regional frameworks on human rights and VAW. However, several sub-regional frameworks have focused on the improvement of human rights in the region. For example, in Southeast Asia, through the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), there is the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women in the ASEAN Region (2004) and the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (2012), as well as various regional plans of action and guidelines.

Understand relevant frameworks on specific forms of violence

Support implementation of international and regional legal frameworks

Even though many states are signatories to global and regional frameworks, there are often significant gaps in integrating the provisions into national legislation and implementing that legislation. There are therefore a number of mechanisms and actors working to support implementation. At a global level, the international community has an obligation to monitor the implementation of conventions and to step in when member states are unable or unwilling to protect their citizens and uphold their rights. For example, the Platform of Independent Expert Mechanisms on the Elimination of Discrimination and Violence against Women (EDVAW Platform) is composed of seven UN and regional independent monitoring mechanisms and experts. These experts are dedicated to reaffirming the existing legal frameworks and ensuring states increase their efforts towards their effective implementation.

At a national and regional level, programmes can also engage with other key actors to influence legal and policy changes and promote their effective implementation.

Actor	Mandate
Governments	Duty to protect and promote women's human rights, support survivors and punish perpetrators
Citizens and civil society, including women's rights organisations	Monitor governments and hold them to account Advocacy to promote and claim rights
Committee on the elimination of discrimination of women (CEDAW)	Independent expert body that monitors implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
UN bodies including: UN Women, Commission on the Status of Women, Human Rights Council	Oversee the implementation of national frameworks and treaties Can issue binding decisions requiring States to stop the violation and, where appropriate, make reparations
Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences	Seek and receive information on VAW, its cause and consequences Recommend measures to eliminate VAW Communicate with States about alleged cases of VAW
Media (print and online)	Challenge rather than perpetuate harmful gender stereotypes
Donors	Increase investment on VAW

Source: page 8 of UN Women and Social Development Direct (2020) Global and Regional Frameworks to end VAW

Identify campaigning and advocacy opportunities during the year

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Case Studies

Development of a Regional Action Plan in Africa

Spotlight Initiative

The Spotlight Initiative Africa Regional Programme (SIARP) undertook a comprehensive mapping and assessment to understand the implementation status of laws, policies, action plans, financing and capabilities of states in Africa to end violence against women and girls (EVAWG). Despite the existence of various EVAWG-related frameworks and regional strategies, significant implementation gaps were identified.

“All we need is to implement our commitments. It’s great to see regional partners coming together to develop a Regional Action Plan to eliminate violence against women and girls.” - Odette Kabaya, Regional Programme Senior Gender Advisor, UNDP Regional Service Centre for Africa

These gaps included limited coordination capabilities among regional economic commissions, inconsistent policies across member states, inadequate funding for EVAWG programming, and a lack of effective monitoring and reporting mechanisms. This situation was compounded by the fact that less than half (26 out of 55) African member states had National Action Plans on EVAWG.

In response, SIARP, in partnership with the African Union Commission, mobilised stakeholders to develop a Regional Action Plan. The first consultative session occurred in December 2021 through a virtual meeting involving stakeholders from the African Union, Regional Economic Communities, Member States, and civil society organisations. The key focus of the meeting was state budgets, monitoring and compliance, as well as laying the groundwork for a streamlined regional effort towards ending VAWG. The Regional Action Plan aimed to transition regional stakeholders and member states from commitment to action, outlining coordinated actions, structures, mechanisms, strategies and investments at both regional and national levels. The success of the Regional Action Plan can be attributed to several key elements:

The process of creating the plan helped bring member states together, both regionally as well as prompting them to act domestically.
A participatory and collaborative development process involving a wide range of stakeholders, which helped to promote accountability.
Embedding financial allocations in the form of gender budgets and monitoring and evaluation.

Region: Africa

Stakeholders: National government, Regional Organisations

Safe and Fair: Developing Standard Operating Procedures for a Coordinated Response to VAW in the ASEAN region

Spotlight Initiative

The Safe and Fair programme is part of Spotlight Initiative. It aims to ensure that labour migration is safe and fair for all women in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region. Implemented by ILO and UN Women, along with UNODC, the programme recognizes that women migrant workers in ASEAN countries are at an increased risk of violence, trafficking and exploitation. Addressing these challenges requires a nuanced understanding of both global, regional and national frameworks.

Safe and fair. A practical guide: Developing standard operating procedures (SOPs) for a coordinated response to violence against women, including women migrant workers.

The Safe and Fair programme helped to develop guidance for Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) as an essential tool to make sure a coordinated response to violence against women, including women migrant workers, is put in place. Due to the multi-faceted nature of violence and the specific challenges and needs of women migrant workers, coordinated approaches are more effective than when different actors work in isolation to address the issue. The primary audience of the SOPs is service providers, and the guidance is therefore regularly updated to ensure that it remains relevant to the context and referral pathways for women migrant workers.

The guidance was developed in close cooperation with partners across countries in ASEAN and in particular Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam. It notes that to be most effective, SOPs need to be in line with both international standards and approaches on VAWG and quality coordinated responses, as well as labour migration, including International Labour Standards and the UN Convention of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Family.

Region: Asia

Stakeholders: National government, Regional Organisations, Migrant workers