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 diplomatic missions, and in our communities and countries.
At a time when the geopolitical landscape has changed and violence against all women and girls is intensifying, we asked ourselves: What can we do, as a global force spanning 165 countries, to meet this moment? The answer: Broaden our work for greater impact.
On this International Women’s Day, we’re proud to share that we are expanding our work from a singular focus on a new optional protocol to include multiple pathways to end violence against all women and girls. These include three strategic pillars: advancing international law, increasing global accountability, and strengthening the movement, to ensure all women and girls everywhere can live free from violence.
We refuse to normalise violence against any woman or girl
The urgency is undeniable. Across the globe, women and girls face persistent and rising levels of violence. At the same time, the movements working to end this violence are being defunded, critical legal protections are being rolled back, and activists and organisations are increasingly targeted with abuse and threats designed to silence and discredit them.
But we know change is possible — and collective action is how we achieve it. In the words of cofounder Meera Khanna: “From villages to international bodies, from lived experience to international law, we create accountability that no single actor could achieve alone.”
What we’re doing now
Advance international law
The Every Woman diplomacy team, led by Dr. Farida Bena in Geneva, is identifying high-impact opportunities for actions that would strengthen global norms and standards on ending gender-based violence, such as addressing digital violence and advancing recognition of gender persecution and oppression within the Crimes against Humanity Treaty.
Increase global accountability
We’ve launched a new program to engage in the Universal Periodic Review, a country-to-country human rights review that is influenced by civil society. We’ll be submitting country-specific, evidence-based recommendations on ending violence against all women and girls to countries under review and monitoring the uptake of our recommendations.
Strengthen the movement
With activists facing systematic backlash and threats, we’ve created the Resilient Collective, a critical space for coalition members to learn, connect and recharge. Coming soon: Member Resource Hub, an online portal with hundreds of grant and training opportunities.
This is the power of collective action.
This is how lasting change happens.
With determination, solidarity, and hope for the work ahead,
Meera Khanna Dr. Eleanor Nwadinobi Zainab Ali Khan
Cofounder Cofounder Cofounder
Lisa Shannon Tanvi Girotra Dr. Farida Bena
Cofounder Chief of Coalition Director of Diplomacy
