Together We Push Forward: A Global Call to End Violence Against Women

Content Advisory: This article contains discussions regarding the sensitive subject of violence against girls and women. Readers are advised that the content might contain distressing or triggering elements. Viewer discretion is strongly recommended.

Over 30 years ago, on 6 December 1989, 13 women students and one woman university employee were killed in a mechanical engineering class at the école Polytechnique in Montreal by a gunman espousing anti-feminist ideology. The incident’s violent misogyny shook the world, yet violence against women continues to take the lives of countless women every year. The unsettling reality is a stark reminder of the urgent need to address gender-based violence, an issue that transcends borders and demands our unwavering attention.

Violence against women and girls (VAWG) is one of the most widespread, persistent, and devastating human rights violations globally. Frequently concealed by silence and stigma, instances of such violence often go unreported. In 1993, the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women issued by the UN General Assembly defined violence against women as “any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.” This includes, but is not limited to, intimate partner violence, sexual violence and harassment, human trafficking, female genital mutilation, and child marriage.?

Commencing Activism: International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

Each year on 25 November, we commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, which also marks the start of the UNiTE campaign — an initiative of 16 days of activism concluding on International Human Rights Day on 10 December. This campaign, led by the UN Secretary-General and UN Women since 2008, is dedicated to preventing and eliminating violence against women and girls, urging global action to raise awareness, promote advocacy and create opportunities for discussion on challenges and solutions in alignment with Goal 5 Gender Equality.?

While gender-based violence can affect anyone at any place, certain groups of women are particularly vulnerable, such as racialized women, women with disabilities, Indigenous women, or those identifying as lesbian, bisexual, transgender, non-binary, or intersex. In the meantime, the adverse consequences of VAWG reverberate throughout all stages of women’s and girls’ lives, perpetuating educational disadvantages that hinder universal schooling and limit opportunities in the labour market. In essence, VAWG is a fundamental human rights issue, and the Global Goal of leaving no one behind can only be fulfilled if violence against all women and girls is put to a firm end.

Milestones Achieved: Activism, Awareness, and Global Momentum

In recent years, the world has witnessed a shift with feminist movements like #MeToo, ignited by activist Tarana Burke in 2006. The global mobilization sparked unprecedented awareness, creating an imperative to address violence against women and girls. The relentless efforts of grassroots activists, human rights defenders and organizations, as well as survivor advocates have been instrumental in shaping a global discourse. In 2021, the Spotlight Initiative evoked a 22% increase in the prosecution of perpetrators; 84 laws and policies were passed or strengthened; and more than 650,000 women and girls were able to access gender-based violence services.

However, progress has never been a linear path. Anti-rights movements loom large, threatening to drown out the voices of those striving for change. On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, unity and solidarity are of paramount importance to fortifying the foundations of feminist movements around the world.

Persisting Challenges: The Pandemic’s Impact and Ongoing Resistance

Despite strides made, the COVID-19 pandemic cast a long shadow and exacerbated violence against women. A study by UN Women shows that, since the beginning of the pandemic, 45% of women reported that they or a woman they know has experienced a form of VAWG; 7 in 10 women said they think that verbal or physical abuse by a partner has become more common; and 6 in 10 felt that sexual harassment in public spaces has worsened. Given previous lockdown measures, many women were trapped at home with their abusers, struggling to access services that were suffering from cuts and restrictions.?

These alarming statistics underscore not only the health crisis but also the hidden pandemic of violence against women. The insidious effects of the pandemic have permeated the very fabric of our societies, threatening the hard-earned progress made in the fight against gender-based violence. According to UN Women, as we recover from the pandemic, we are witnessing a surge in assaults on women’s autonomy to make decisions about their own bodies, escalating obstacles to women’s rights and leadership, and an increase in disappearances and violence against women merely because of their gender. In navigating post-pandemic times, the need for unified efforts to address the root causes of this backlash remains pressingly important.

“Against the Pushback, We Push Forward”

In a world facing crises and insecurities, the hard-won progress on women’s rights faces a major pushback. Supporting women’s rights activities globally is crucial to resist rollbacks. At the UN Global Compact Network Canada, we acknowledge the significance of the safety and rights of women to the broader mission of achieving equity and inclusion. We are proud to be an official Ecosystem Partner of the 50 – 30 Challenge, a transformative initiative by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada . The goal is to increase diversity and representation in businesses, nonprofits, and institutions across Canada, and to elevate women and all equity-deserving groups into positions of power. Signatories to the challenge are expected to meet the following targets within their organizations:?

1. 50% representation of women or gender non-binary individuals on boards and/or in senior management roles;?
2. 30% representation of equity-deserving groups (racialized people, Indigenous, those with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQI2S+ community) on boards and/or in senior management roles.?

Building on the commitment of over 2000 Canadian organizations participating in workshops and diversity initiatives via the 50 – 30 Challenge, the UN Global Compact Network Canada is at the forefront of championing equity, diversity, and inclusion. Click here to be part of the change.

Furthermore, the UN Global Compact Network Canada leads the project, “Accelerating Systemic Change: The Case for Gender Equality Leadership for Sustainable Recovery,” funded by WAGE / FEGC . This project aims to improve women’s participation in the labour market while addressing discriminatory legislation, policies, and/or practices that hinder women’s full participation in social, political, and economic life in Canada. By employing a GBA+ framework, this project amplifies the voices of women and others who have been systemically marginalized in conversations related to post-pandemic recovery and organizational resiliency, in order to build more diverse and inclusive workspaces that can better adapt and respond during periods of crisis. Click here to learn more.

Now is the moment to contribute to the growing movement against violence, oppression, and repression. Join us today and participate in these initiatives to end all forms of violence and inequality faced by every woman and girl. The only way forward is to keep pushing forward.

Written by Lexi Yixuan M. , Marketing and Communication Consultant, UN Global Compact Network Canada