Human rights are universal values that every person should have and that everyone should respect. It’s about freedom, equality, and being treated with dignity regardless of your gender, nationality, or beliefs. That’s why it’s necessary to stop violence against women, since it transgresses their rights.
According to the UN, nearly one out of three women around the world has suffered some type of violence. In order to take actions, the UN as well as other organizations have shared some valuable ways in which we can help to end violence against women and girls.
Make a safely and impactful difference
[Image: UN Women]
Listen to and believe survivors: When a woman or girl shares her story of violence, she takes the first step to breaking the cycle of abuse. It’s on all of us to give her the safe space she needs to speak up and be heard. When discussing, remember that her sobriety, clothes, and sexuality are irrelevant.
Don’t say, “Why didn’t she leave?”. Do say: “We hear you. We believe you. We stand with you.”
Teach the next generation and learn from them: The examples we set for the younger generation shape the way they think about gender, respect, and human rights. Start conversations about gender roles early on, and challenge the traditional features and characteristics assigned to men and women. Point out the stereotypes that children constantly encounter, whether in the media, on the street, or at the school, and let them know that it’s OK to be different. Encourage a culture of acceptance.
Talk about consent, bodily autonomy, and accountability to boys and girls. Listen to what they have to say about their experience of the world. By empowering young advocates with information, we can build a better future for all.
Call for responses and services fit for purpose: Learn about shelters, hotlines, counseling, and all support for survivors of gender-based violence in your area. Make them available for those in need, even during the coronavirus pandemic.
Ensure essential services for survivors of violence are maintained during this crisis, implement prevention measures, and invest in collecting the necessary data to adapt and improve life-saving services for women and girls.
Understand consent: Freely given, enthusiastic consent is mandatory, every time. Rather than listening for a “no,” make sure there is an active “yes,” from all involved. Adopt enthusiastic consent in your life and talk about it. Phrases like “she was asking for it” or “boys will be boys” attempt to blur the lines around sexual consent, placing blame on victims, and excusing perpetrators.
While those that use these lines may have fuzzy understandings of consent, the definition is crystal clear. When it comes to consent, there are no blurred lines.
Learn the signs of abuse and how you can help: There are many forms of abuse and all of them can have serious physical and emotional effects. If you’re concerned about a friend who may be experiencing violence or feels unsafe around someone, review these signs and learn about the ways to help them find safety and support. If you think someone is abusing you, help is available. You are not alone.
Start a conversation: Violence against women and girls is a human rights violation that’s been perpetuated for decades. It’s common, but it’s not inevitable unless we stay silent. Show your solidarity by starting a conversation and sharing useful content on social media. Spread the word to encourage others to do the same.
Stand against rape culture: Rape culture is the social environment that allows sexual violence to be normalized and justified, fueled by persistent gender inequalities and attitudes about gender and sexuality. Naming it is the first step to dismantling rape culture. Every day we have the opportunity to examine our behaviors and beliefs.
Think about how you define masculinity and femininity, and how your own biases and stereotypes influence you. From the attitudes we have about gender identities to the policies we support in our communities, we can all take action to stand against rape culture.
Fund women’s organizations: Donate to local organizations that empower women, amplify their voices, support survivors, and promote acceptance of all gender identities and sexualities.
Hold each other accountable: Violence can take many forms, including sexual harassment in the workplace and in public spaces. Take a stand by calling it out when you see it: catcalling, inappropriate sexual comments and sexist jokes are never okay.
Create a safer environment for everyone by challenging your peers to reflect on their own behavior and speaking up when someone crosses the line, or by enlisting the help of others if you don’t feel safe. As always, listen to survivors and make sure they have the support they need.
Know the data and demand more of it: To effectively combat gender-based violence, we need to understand the issue. Relevant data collection is key to implementing successful prevention measures and providing survivors with the right support. Gender-based violence spiked during COVID-19, yet the gaps in gender-sensitive data collection also became more glaring than ever. Call on your government to invest in the collection of data on gender-based violence.
Some of the world’s most at-risk are girls
Raise awareness of the dangers of harmful traditions, such as early child marriage, damaging parts of their bodies, or corporal punishment.
Tackle violence against girls in school. Physical and sexual abuse, harassment, and bullying limits girls’ enrollment undermines their participation and achievements and increases absenteeism and dropout.
To stop this, schools must offer counseling sessions, implement projects that talk about these issues and how to tackle them, partner with organizations that advocate for safe education to work towards long-lasting change by ensuring a safe and quality education for all children.
Challenge and speak out about violence in the home. Many girls grow up in violent households. It’s important to question the deeply ingrained beliefs that lead to gender-based violence within communities. Educate other girls and women about their rights. Discuss the importance of equality with men of your community. No one has the right to mistreat their child or partner.
Listen to girls’ experiences of violence and their solutions. We can only tackle gender-based violence if we listen to girls’ experiences and respond to their needs. For example, young people have identified the opportunity to use social networks and media to promote gender equality and girls’ rights to tackle the accepted behaviors that allow gender-based violence to flourish.
Help make girls’ journeys to school safer. Working with adolescent girls, bus drivers, and ticket inspectors to make buses safe so girls can travel through the city free from abuse.
Engage boys and young men to become agents of change. They can be taught to stand up for gender equality by breaking down the attitudes that cause violence against girls and women. Everyone can contribute to the achievement of gender equality. Make them realize that girls and women realize don’t deserve to be mistreated in any way.
Ending everyday day actions that reinforce violence against women
[Image: UN Women]
Cover photo: Marc Nozell
