Urgent Dialogue on Gender-Based Violence Unfolds
The Commission on the Status of Women convened an interactive dialogue today, addressing the pressing issues of gender-based violence, stigma, and stereotypes. The discussions emphasized the critical role of men and boys in combating this crisis, alongside the need for robust policy and legal responses to technology-facilitated violence. Participants also highlighted the alarming threats to women’s rights amid a global rise in right-wing authoritarian politics.
Holistic Action Plans โBestโ Approach to Gender-Based Violence
Emma Fulu from the Equality Institute underscored the importance of adopting holistic national action plans to effectively combat gender-based violence. These plans should integrate prevention, response, early intervention, and a strong focus on healing and justice. Fulu pointed out that while many national plans are well-documented, they often lack the necessary budgets for implementation. โPrevention requires sustained, long-term investment,โ she stated, emphasizing the need for continuous evaluation of what strategies are effective. She noted that civil society and womenโs organizations play a crucial role in ensuring that these plans are executed and that governments are held accountable for their commitments. From Fiji to Peru, these organizations have been pivotal in pushing for meaningful change and ensuring that national plans deliver tangible results.
Need for Comprehensive Legal Reforms
Selma Hadลพihaliloviฤ from the CURE Foundation raised concerns about the increasing threats women face from religious groups and the pervasive discrimination against survivors of gender-based violence. She highlighted the stigma that affects women and girls from LGBT communities and those with disabilities. โWe must strengthen our institutions and support systems,โ she urged, noting that despite some progress, women’s representation in political decision-making remains inadequate. Hadลพihaliloviฤ emphasized the need for comprehensive legal reforms to effectively outlaw gender-based violence and all forms of violence against women. She lamented the slow progress, stating, โAs we say in Bosnia, you always make one step forward and two steps back.โ
Brazil Tackles Online Violence against Women
Clarice Tavares from InternetLab discussed the alarming rise of technology-facilitated gender-based violence, particularly in Brazil. She noted that women candidates faced disproportionate online aggression during the last local elections, receiving nearly 70% of the offensive comments on social media, despite making up only 15% of the candidates. โWomen running for public office are unequally targeted,โ Tavares explained, highlighting that attacks often focus on their bodies and personal lives rather than their political actions. Although Brazil has passed criminal laws addressing various forms of online gender-based violence, Tavares pointed out a significant lack of trust in the legal system. She called for greater accountability from social media platforms to protect women from online harassment.
Fiji Recognizes Patriarchy as Root Cause of Violence against Women
Laisa Bulatale from the Fiji Womenโs Rights Movement highlighted the severe levels of violence faced by women and girls in the Pacific region, where an estimated 60% have experienced violence from intimate partners or family members. She noted that over 90% of perpetrators are men, and emphasized that community acceptance of violence, entrenched gender stereotypes, and harmful social norms contribute to this crisis. Bulatale asserted that negative patriarchal values are the root cause of violence against women and girls. She stressed that without acknowledging this issue, efforts to engage men and boys in prevention will be ineffective. The Fijian governmentโs national action plan recognizes patriarchy as a fundamental cause of violence, reinforcing the message that violence against women is โnever acceptable, never excusable, and never tolerable.โ
Surge of Right-Wing Politics Undermines Womenโs Rights
Joy Watson from the Coalition of Feminists for Social Change warned of a global resurgence of right-wing authoritarian politics that threatens women’s rights. She highlighted that womenโs rights organizations are increasingly under attack, with many forced to shut down or operate with dwindling resources. โIf we are serious about ending violence against women and girls, we need more than just words โ we need funding that matches the scale of the crisis,โ Watson stated. She emphasized that womenโs organizations are essential for providing evidence-based insights into policy design and called for accountability that withstands political pressures. The dialogue underscored the urgent need for increased support and resources to effectively combat gender-based violence worldwide.
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