Every day, millions of women and girls across the world are beaten and abused. Many are harmed in their homes by members of their family or community. Others are raped or harassed by the very security forces that are meant to protect them. Some victims of gender-based violence are employed outside their homes, some are not. Some are rich, some are poor. Some are literate, some are not. They are mothers, daughters, sisters, friends. They have only one thing in common: they are female, and they are abused because of it.

The International Violence Against Women Act (I-VAWA) is a major step in the effort to end violence against women and girls across the globe. It directs the US government to create a comprehensive, five-year strategy to reduce violence in up to 20 diverse countries identified as having severe levels of violence against women. The bill was introduced in the last Congress and approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, but it needs to be reintroduced so it can be passed by the full House and Senate. Ask your Senator and Representative to support reintroduction of this bill today!

Focusing on Prevention to Stop the Violence

Violence against women and girls is rooted in gender-based discrimination and social norms and gender stereotypes that perpetuate such violence. Given the devastating effect violence has on women, efforts have mainly focused on responses and services for survivors. However, the best way to end violence against women and girls is to prevent it from happening in the first place by addressing its root and structural causes.

Prevention should start early in life, by educating and working with young boys and girls promoting respectful relationships and gender equality. Working with youth is a “best bet” for faster, sustained progress on preventing and eradicating gender-based violence. While public policies and interventions often overlook this stage of life, it is a critical time when values and norms around gender equality are forged.

Prevention entails supporting the implementation of the agreed conclusions of the 57th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) that placed a strong focus on prevention through the promotion of gender equality, women’s empowerment and their enjoyment of human rights. It also means making the home and public spaces safer for women and girls, ensuring women’s economic autonomy and security, and increasing women’s participation and decision-making powers—in the home and relationships, as well as in public life and politics.Working with men and boys helps accelerate progress in preventing and ending violence against women and girls. They can begin to challenge the deeply rooted inequalities and social norms that perpetuate men’s control and power over women and reinforce tolerance for violence against women and girls.

Awareness raising and community mobilization, including through media and social media, is another important component of an effective prevention strategy.

Our solutions

Education for prevention

UN Women, in partnership with the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) has developed a global non-formal education curriculum to engage young people in efforts to prevent and end violence against girls and women.

A first of its kind, “Voices against Violence” is a co-educational curriculum designed for various age groups ranging from 5 to 25 years. It provides young people with tools and expertise to understand the root causes of violence in their communities, to educate and involve their peers and communities to prevent such violence, and to learn about where to access support if violence is experienced.

The curriculum includes a Handbook for peer educators that will help them deliver age-appropriate sessions, as well as age-appropriate non-formal education activities. The youngest groups may start out with storytelling and games that prompt them to think about gender bias and stereotypes, while older age groups can organize poster competitions, visit and volunteer with local shelters, or develop local community-based campaigns and projects to address specific forms of violence against girls and women.

Voices against Violence is a tool for young people around the world. It can be adapted to national context, translated into local languages, and rolled out in schools and communities in partnership with youth organizations, UN partners and governments.

Ready to start your own “Voices against Violence” journey? Download the handbook, sample activities, and how to deliver the curriculum safely among your constituencies. Contact us via e-mail for more information.

Working with men and boys

At a regional level, UN Women supports Partners for Prevention (P4P), a regional UN joint programme for Asia and the Pacific that provides new knowledge and technical support to prevent gender-based violence in the region. The Programme’s long-term goal is to reduce the prevalence of gender-based violence in the region through behaviour and attitudinal change among boys and men, increase institutional capacity and facilitate policy enhancements.

At a national level, UN Women supports a range of prevention activities, supporting research to get data on the attitudes, perceptions and behaviour of men and boys as well as young people related to various forms of violence; supporting advocacy, awareness-raising,  community mobilization and educational programmes, as well as legal and policy reforms.

22 Ways to Stop Violence Against Women

1. “No” means No. Not “maybe.” Not “I’m just playing hard to get.” Not “later.” Not anything but NO. This isn’t rocket science so I’m not sure why so many men aren’t getting the message. Start listening to what women are saying not what you want them to be saying. And, if a woman is too drunk, stoned, drugged, or medicated, that means NO too. And, having sex with a woman in that condition is RAPE and a CRIME.

2. Stop supporting movies and television that depict women in subordinate roles and as sex objects. Avoid movies and television that glorify rape and other sexual abuses.

3. Don’t support porn. Not only is the porn industry engaged in violence against women, research in Psychology Today found that people who watch porn are: 1) more likely to be desensitized to violence against women; 2) more likely to blame the victim of rape and violent crimes against women; and 3) more likely to rape a woman.

4. Avoid strip clubs and don’t accept a partner who supports these places. I was reading an article recently that indicated many female strippers are threatened with or subjected to violence and are also often the victims of human trafficking.

5. Stop demeaning the feminine by saying things like “you run like a girl,” “you throw like a girl,” or “he cried like a little girl.” That includes referring to men or boys as “girls” when you are meaning something derogatory. Don’t refer to a woman as a “bitch,” “ho” or “whore.”

6. Speak up against violence against women. Years ago I overheard a guy I went to school with say to his buddies, “I’d love to rape her” and motion in the direction of a waitress. No one said anything to him. There is no excuse for violence against women or even language that condones or promotes it.

7. If you know a victim of abuse get the police involved. This woman’s life may be at risk.

8. Be a hero. Reach out to show your support and assistance to women who are victims of violence.

9. Speak up against sexism, sexist comments and sexist jokes. Devaluing women or valuing them for sex is at the root of violent crimes against women. Sexist comments and jokes devalue women.

10. Learn the law and use it. Ask for police support. Press charges against a man who is violent toward you or one who threatens violence against you.

11. Don’t buy from sexist companies and don’t support sexist organizations. They’re only profiting from sexism or from promoting women as sex objects. A colleague told me her partner bought a “Wife Beater” T-shirt.  Astounded, I asked her why she accepted that her partner was sexist and promoting violence against women, not to mention demeaning a serious crime that causes thousands of women’s deaths every year.

12. Donate to legitimate organizations and charities that advocate for women, support them when they’ve been victimized by violence, or help them overcome difficult circumstances.

13. Teach your daughters and sons about fair and respectful treatment of girls and women, including rape myths (the disturbing notion that a woman actually wants to be raped or somehow deserves to be raped). Teach them that date rape is a serious crime, making any man who pushes or forces a woman to have sex a rapist and a criminal.

14. Don’t engage in revenge porn—posting naked pictures of a partner on websites after she breaks up with you. And, women, if he loves you he doesn’t need to exploit you through naked photos.

15. Recognize that the way a woman is dressed or not dressed has nothing to do with whether she “deserved it” or “had it coming.” No matter how a woman is dressed, it is not an invitation to any man to mistreat her.

16. Expect more from the men in your life. Men: expect more from yourself. Don’t accept or engage in language or actions that condone or promote sexism or violence against women.

17. Think before you speak. Next time you say something about “girls” or “women” imagine how the same expression would sound if you substituted the name of an ethnic, cultural or religious group. If it sounds racist or prejudice then you know it will be sexist and equally unacceptable if you say the same comment against women or girls.

18. Stop prematurely sexualizing young girls. Parents don’t let your kids dress in micro-miniskirts, high heels, and makeup. I was in a café where a girl about 9 or 10 kept falling on the ground. It was obvious that her high heels were the issue. She can make these choices for herself when she’s older.

19. If you’re involved in an abusive relationship, reach out to a shelter or women’s group for help. You don’t need to remain isolated. Most abusive men attempt to keep their abused partners isolated and controlled. If you’re subjected to verbal abuse tell yourself you deserve better (you do!) and get out. With 7 billion people on the planet, you really can do better than someone who abuses you.

20. Share articles and information about ending sexism and violence against women through social media like Facebook and Twitter. Raising awareness helps overcome the problem.

21. Write to your political representatives making them accountable for sexist legislation, including insufficient sentences for men who commit crimes against women.

22. Take a self defense or martial arts course. When I was 17, my mom asked me to take a self defense course with her. I not only came out feeling more capable of protecting myself, I felt empowered. Most men who commit crimes against women are cowards who frequently back down when they suspect they’ll be challenged.

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