Global Leaders Call for Urgent Action to End Violence Against Women and Girls

At the SHE & Rights (Sexual Health with Equity & Rights) session held during the 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence, speakers warned that the world remains far behind in achieving the goal of ending violence against women and girls, despite decades of effort. The event also marked International Human Rights Day (10 December) and Universal Health Coverage Day (12 December).

Delivering the plenary keynote, Dr. Pam Rajput, Emeritus Professor at Panjab University and former Chairperson of India’s High-Level Committee on the Status of Women, described gender-based violence as a violation of human rights and a barrier to sustainable development.

“Over 840 million women have faced violence globally. In the past 12 months alone, 316 million women experienced physical or sexual abuse by intimate partners, while 263 million faced violence by others. Over 51,000 cases of femicide have been reported,” she said, calling for zero tolerance in both policy and practice.

Dr. Rajput highlighted that even women parliamentarians and journalists are not spared, with 82% of women MPs reporting psychosocial violence and 73% of women journalists facing online abuse.

Shobha Shukla, Coordinator of SHE & Rights and President of APCAT Media, lamented the lack of progress. “Since 2000, the annual decline in intimate partner and sexual violence is abysmally low at 0.2%. This is unacceptable,” she said.

She noted that while 165 countries have domestic violence laws, only 104 have comprehensive legislative frameworks, leaving nearly half of the world without adequate protections. Even where laws exist, funding has declined since 2022.

Speakers also drew attention to the link between gender-based violence and HIV. Esther Asuquo, of the African Girls Empowerment Network (Nigeria), explained how violence increases women’s risk of HIV infection by limiting their ability to negotiate safer sex.

Albertina Nyatsi, Founder of Positive Women Together in Action (Eswatini), added: “Gender-based violence and HIV are deeply intertwined. Stigma and discrimination fuel violence, creating a vicious cycle that prevents testing, treatment, and safer sex negotiation.”

Dr. Huda Syyed, Founder of Sahara Sisters’ Collective (Australia), warned that female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) remains widespread, with 230 million girls and women worldwide affected. UNICEF data shows a 15% increase in FGM/C in 2024 compared to eight years ago, including 80 million cases in Asia.

“FGM/C violates fundamental rights and medical ethics. Ending it is central to gender justice, bodily autonomy, and sustainable development,” Dr. Syyed stressed.