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5 Questions with Thulisile Maziya: How the UPR can fast-track the Implementation of the Existing Gender-Based Violence Law in Eswatini.

Photos: Courtesy of Thulisile Maziya Coalition member Thulisile Maziya, executive director of Sinatsisa Lubombo Women and Girls Empowerment Organisation in Eswatini, has spent the last decade developing and implementing community-based programs to prevent gender-based violence and improve access to justice and the socio-economic empowerment of women, girls, and people with disabilities in underserved, remote communities. […]

Join our Global Team! Every Woman is seeking a new Chief Executive.

Chief Executive Officer – Every Woman We’re pleased to share that we are seeking a new Chief Executive to lead our global team. Learn more about the opportunity below. *   *   * Every Woman is a coalition of women’s rights activists across 165 countries working to end violence against all women and girls by advancing […]

CSW70: Advancing Survivor-centred Policies in International Law

Key Takeaways from our CSW70 Event With an estimated 840 million women and girls having experienced partner or sexual violence, and an unprecedented level of women and girls subject to technology-based violence, access to justice for survivors is a critical pillar in addressing violence against all women and girls.  “Behind each statistic is a survivor […]

5 Questions with Judge Najla Ayoubi: the Crimes against Humanity Treaty

Judge Najla Ayoubi is a leading voice in advocating for including the persecution of women and girls in the Crimes against Human Rights Treaty. In 2024, she spoke at the United Nations on the systematic violation of women’s and girls’ rights and freedom in Afghanistan and the horrific restrictions placed on their lives. Judge Ayoubi […]

Every Woman Launches New Hub for Activists

Advancing the end of violence against all women and girls through collective power and care   As a key initiative of our new expanded scope of work, Every Woman is proud to launch The Resilient Collective, an academy of shared learning designed to strengthen and sustain our collective advocacy to end gender-based violence for all […]

A New Collective Path Forward

Dear Global Community, For years, Every Woman has advocated for the end of violence against all women and girls through binding global law. We have met with more than 100 countries, published op-eds and policy reports, and influenced the global dialogue on solutions to end violence against women and girls at the United Nations, in […]

2026 Word of the Year: Flock

Dear friends, This time last year, I was in Mogadishu. Following elections back home in the United States, people were openly talking about fleeing—leaving, retreating, pulling back. Yet at a table in Somalia, a country emerging from decades of collapse, I sat with women’s rights activists who all held passports from Western nations. They could […]

A Safe Internet Is Possible — Join Our #16Days Event

Dear Global Community, Online violence against women and girls has surged in recent years, with as many as 58 per cent of women globally experiencing some form of cyberviolence. With a rapidly changing technology landscape, violence prevention must be embedded into national, regional, and global systems. Our high-level side event — held in-person and online […]

Budgets Are Human Rights Tools – Insights from our Solutions Session at the Second World Summit on Social Development

We frequently hear that addressing violence against women and girls is costly and many governments simply do not have enough resources to prioritise this issue.  Our Solutions Session today at the Second World Summit on Social Development challenged this narrative, highlighting the extraordinary cost of violence against women and girls, the economic and social consequences, […]

Statement on the 25th Anniversary of Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security

Statement on the 25th Anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security Our Commitment to Human Rights Law in the Face of Ongoing Conflicts 31 October 2025  Thirty-one October 2000 marked an extraordinary milestone for peace and equality. The UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, […]

Why Ending Violence Is Smart Economics – Join The Virtual Conversation

  Dear Global Community, We’re pleased to share that Every Woman will be in Doha, Qatar, for the Second World Summit for Social Development and will be cohosting a virtual solutions session with Women for Human Rights – Nepal:  THE PRICE OF INACTION The Economic Costs of Violence Against Women & Girls and What Budgetary […]

Every Woman Announces CEO Transition and New Interim Leadership

Photo: Lisa Ellis Message from the Board of Directors Dear Global Community, After thirteen years of extraordinary leadership, Lisa Shannon will be transitioning from her role as CEO of Every Woman this December and stepping into a new role as Founder in Residence. Lisa’s vision and courage have transformed Every Woman from an ambitious idea […]

A joyful shift in role. Unwavering commitment.

Photo: Lisa in Nepal with coalition member Upasana Rana Dearest friends, Some news! In December, I’ll be shifting from my role as CEO to “Founder in Residence” at Every Woman. After 13 years, this is no small shift—but it is a joyful one. I believe with all my heart that it will strengthen our mission […]

UNGA80 Commitments Must Become Action to End Violence Against Women and Girls

During the UN General Assembly, 109 governments made 212 commitments toward the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action on gender equality, including actions to end violence against women and girls. UN Women called these commitments “the strongest multilateral stand for women and girls in the past 30 years.”  These commitments are a promising and […]

UNGA80: In Solidarity for Women’s and Girls’ Rights

Every Woman is heading to New York for the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week at a moment of profound global challenge. Conflicts continue to upend communities, hard-won rights are under threat, and rates of violence against women and girls remain deeply troubling. These realities serve as a stark reminder of the essential role human […]

Welcome Two New Powerful Leaders to Every Woman

Dear Global Community, I’m thrilled to share that two exceptional leaders have joined the Every Woman team.   Farida Bena, PhD, our new Director of Diplomacy, has deep expertise in human rights,  humanitarian aid, migration, and development, with work that spans the globe, from Geneva to Sub-Saharan Africa to South Asia. She has worked with […]

Human Rights Council: A Win for Women & Girls

Every Woman Diplomacy Team at the Human Rights Council, Geneva – Amjad Chatila, Farida Bena, Diane Vissoh By DIANE VISSOH On June 25, during the 59th session of the UN Human Rights Council, nations gathered for an interactive dialogue with the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, Ms. Reem Alsalem. Every nation […]

Every Woman Fellows – Shaping the Future of Equality

Nancy Akeyo, Kenya, participating in the Every Woman Fellowship, February 2025 The Every Woman Fellowship is an online, peer-to-peer leadership program that builds the capacity of women’s rights activists to advocate for laws and policies to end violence against women and girls. Since the program’s launch in 2021, over 400 women’s rights activists in 64 […]

Letter from New York – CSW69

Every Woman Diplomacy Team at the United Nations By DIANE VISSOH and AMJAD CHATILA Dear Global Community,  We recently returned home from attending the 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in New York. It was our first time participating in this historic gathering, and experiencing CSW in person was incredibly, […]

CSW69: Global Coalition Gathers for Powerful In-Person Connection

New York, NY – The energy was palpable as members of the Every Woman coalition came together in person at the 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69). While the digital era has bridged communication gaps, nothing compares to the power of face-to-face engagement. CSW69 provided an invaluable opportunity for coalition […]

CSW69: Honoring Women’s Leadership: A Distinguished Gathering of Global Leaders

New York, NY – It was a profound honor for Every Woman, through its Chief of Global Diplomatic Campaign Lawyer Patricia Elias, to participate as a panelist at the CSW69 side event, “Women’s Leadership and Challenging Global Trends,” co-hosted by the Government of Montenegro, United Nations Development Program, and Women Political Leaders, held at the […]

Join us at CSW69 – 6 Events Online and In person!

  The 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) is here!  This global gathering is a pivotal moment to advance gender equality, amplify women’s voices, and push for policies that create a world free from violence and discrimination. From 10th to 21st March 2025, Every Woman will join a global community […]

African Union Passes Convention to Eliminate Violence against Women and Girls

Congratulations to the African Union for adopting the AU Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (AU CEVAWG), a regional treaty dedicated to ending all forms of violence against women and girls.  This new convention is a testament to Africa’s unwavering commitment to promoting and protecting the rights of women and girls across the […]

Supporting a New Generation of Activists

Back in 2023 as the Every Woman Fellowship was in full swing, it became clear that while the coalition is home to many passionate young activists eager to advance women’s rights, many live in countries where the field can be highly dangerous, and access to career development and mentorship opportunities are scarce. To address this, […]

Former Special Rapporteur Coauthors Paper on the Need for a New OP-CEDAW

Former Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls Rashida Manjoo and international human rights lawyer Christina Beninger published a paper in the International Human Rights Law Review supporting the call for a new Optional Protocol to CEDAW to end violence against women and girls.  The paper notes that while there are multiple non-binding instruments […]

#16Days: Canadian Activists Host Webinar on Need for New OP-CEDAW

During 16 Days of Activism, Every Woman was honored to be part of an extraordinary event honoring the 14 Canadian women who were killed on December 6 at Polytechnique Montréal in 1989. In a horrific act of misogyny, Mark Lepine entered an engineering classroom, separated students by gender, and opened fire on the women, who […]

#16Days: A New Optional Protocol – Break the UK’s Misogynistic System

#16 Days Essay Series  Every year, women’s rights activists across the globe participate in 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence from November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls, to December 10, Human Rights Day. This year, members of Every Woman’s Emerging Leaders Council (activists under 35) are […]

#16Days: An Optional Protocol Can Elevate Women’s Leadership — A Latin Perspective

#16Days Essay Series Every year, women’s rights activists across the globe participate in 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence from November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls, to December 10, Human Rights Day. This year, members of Every Woman’s Emerging Leaders Council (activists under 35) are publishing six […]

#16Days: Reflecting on Yesterday’s Event at the French Senate

Yesterday, on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, we gathered at the French Senate for an inspiring colloquium on ending violence against women and girls worldwide organized by G100: Mission Million Government and Ministerial Advocacy along with Every Woman . We had the great support of Senator Mrs. Olivia Richard. The […]

Croatian Ambassador Calls for Exploring Optional Protocol!

Today, during the UN High-level meeting to mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the Croatian Ambassador called for examining the need for a new Optional Protocol to CEDAW!   His Excellency Ivan Šimonović, Ambassador of Croatia to the United Nations in New York, opened his remark by […]

#16Days: A New Optional Protocol’s Role in Ending Ritual Abuse in Nigeria

#16Days Essay Series  Every year, women’s rights activists across the globe participate in 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence from November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls, to December 10, Human Rights Day. This year, members of Every Woman’s Emerging Leaders Council (activists under 35) are publishing […]

Dear Survivors

To All Survivors, Today, we gather our words to honor you, though no combination of phrases could truly capture the depth of our respect, nor could they convey the enormity of the journey you have undertaken. Yet, I write this dedication in the hope that you feel seen, cherished, and celebrated for the incredible strength […]

Geneva Update: Every Woman Participates in CSO Dialogue

Dear Global Community,  Every Woman just spent a week in Geneva with hundreds of other Civil Society Organizations discussing how we can further women’s rights and safety and ensure civil society’s concerns and expertise are heard. It was a great honor to be part of such important conversations. We had the privilege of speaking at […]

Celebrating Each Other

Amid the hustle and bustle of events, dinners, and furthering the cause of women’s rights during the recent Commission on

Special Rapporteur Calls for New Optional Protocol to CEDAW at CSW in New York

The Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences, Ms. Reem Alsalem called for the creation of an Optional Protocol on violence against women and girls to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) during the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of […]