Accelerating Action for Gender Equality: A Call for Global Collaboration

As we look ahead to International Women’s Day this March, with the theme #AccelerateAction, it’s more crucial than ever to recognise the urgent need for global collaboration in addressing gender-based violence (GBV) and advancing gender equality. The findings from the European Union’s recent Gender-Based Violence Survey paint a sobering picture: one in three women in the EU has experienced physical or sexual violence in adulthood, with one in six women having faced sexual violence, including rape. Additionally, one in five women suffer violence within their own homes, from partners, relatives, or other household members. 

The prevalence of violence extends to the workplace, where one in three women report sexual harassment, and two in five younger women experience similar abuse. Alarmingly, despite the widespread nature of these violations, only 1 in 5 women who have experienced violence have sought help from healthcare or social services, and only 1 in 8 have reported the incidents to authorities. 

This underreporting reflects broader systemic issues, including fear of retaliation and lack of trust in law enforcement. The long-lasting mental and physical impacts of GBV make it clear that we need not only more comprehensive policies and services but also better international collaboration. The EU survey highlights significant barriers to accessing support, yet it also underscores the global need for unified, survivor-centered approaches and a commitment to breaking down these barriers. 

Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse (STADA) believes that strengthening coordinated multi-agency and community responses is vital. Domestic abuse is not solely a criminal issue; it’s a public health and societal crisis. Now, more than ever, we need international collaboration so we can learn from each other’s experiences and solutions to drive real change. By sharing knowledge, resources, and best practices across borders, we can work together to reduce the stigma, improve access to support, and ensure that survivors are at the heart of every response. 

As we approach International Women's Day this March, we call on governments, policymakers, and communities worldwide to accelerate action to address these challenges. The need for systemic reform is now clearer than ever. Survivors deserve better. Only through coordinated, multi-agency responses and sustained international collaboration can we hope to make significant progress in the fight against gender-based violence and ensure a safer, more equitable world for all women. 

Together, we can work towards a world where gender-based violence is eradicated, and where all women and girls can live free from violence, fear, and inequality.