As the world observes the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, the urgency to address this pervasive issue through systemic solutions takes center stage. Spanning from November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, to December 10, Human Rights Day, this global campaign underscores the critical role of all sectors—including social protection systems—in preventing and responding to violence against women and girls (VAWG). With nearly one in three women experiencing physical or sexual violence in their lifetimes, the need for transformative action has never been greater.
In the complex landscape of human rights, gender-based violence emerges as a critical issue with profound economic and social implications. A comprehensive review of 20 joint programmes revealed a nuanced approach to addressing this challenge. While six programmes offered minimal engagement and four focused solely on awareness training, ten programmes implemented transformative strategies. These more robust initiatives established comprehensive coordination mechanisms, developed targeted protocols, and created critical referral pathways. By training social protection workers and integrating support systems, these programmes demonstrated the potential for systemic change in combating gender-based violence and supporting survivors.
In Madagascar, a groundbreaking approach emerged that directly addressed survivors' holistic needs. By including gender-based violence survivors as beneficiaries of cash transfers, agricultural insurance, and health insurance programmes, the joint programme provided tangible economic and medical support. Crucially, survivors gained expanded access to counselling and legal support, recognizing that recovery extends far beyond immediate physical safety.
Georgia's programme demonstrated another innovative model, focusing on an often-overlooked population: women with disabilities. Through extensive engagement, the programme revised guidelines, updated standard operating procedures, and conducted comprehensive staff training. The result was a more inclusive approach to quality gender-based violence and sexual and reproductive health services that recognized the intersectional challenges faced by women with disabilities.
Costa Rica took a systemic approach by raising awareness about gender-based violence as a fundamental driver of the feminization of poverty. The programme's most significant achievement was developing sophisticated procedures and coordination mechanisms between social protection and gender equality agencies, creating a more integrated system for identifying and referring cases.
These programmes represent more than isolated interventions; they signal a profound shift in understanding gender-based violence. No longer viewed as a purely personal or criminal justice issue, it is now recognized as a complex social challenge requiring comprehensive, multidimensional responses.
The emerging model suggests that effective gender-based violence prevention and response must be woven into the very fabric of social protection systems. By providing economic support, healthcare access, legal resources, and systemic awareness, these programmes offer a blueprint for meaningful societal transformation.
As these initiatives demonstrate, combating gender-based violence is not just about protecting individuals—it's about redesigning social systems to prevent violence, support survivors, and create pathways to genuine equality and economic security.
Note:
All joint programmes of the Joint SDG Fund are led by UN Resident Coordinators and implemented by the agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations development system. With sincere appreciation for the contributions from the European Union and Governments of Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and our private sector funding partners, for a transformative movement towards achieving the SDGs by 2030.
