Spotlight

Violence against women and girls is one of the most systematic and widespread human rights violations. The impact of violence for women and girls ranges from immediate to long term physical, sexual and mental health consequences. It has immense personal, societal and economic costs all around the globe: from greater health care and legal expenses to productivity losses. Gender equality and empowerment of women is central for the achievement of full human potential and sustainable development—with the elimination of violence against women being a crucial component.

Spotlight Initiative is the world’s largest dedicated effort to end all forms of violence against women and girls by 2030. It is implemented as a global multi-year partnership between the European Union and the United Nations. Spotlight Initiative is responding to all forms of violence against women and girls, with a particular focus on domestic and family violence, sexual and gender-based violence and harmful practices, femicide, trafficking in human beings and sexual and labour exploitation.

Today Spotlight Initiative is on the ground in more than 25 countries across the globe with targeted investments to end violence against women and girls. Each Spotlight Initiative country and regional programme is designed to address legislative and policy gaps, strengthen institutions, promote gender-equitable attitudes, provide quality services for survivors, produce disaggregated data and empower women’s movements, while leaving no one behind.

Alliances for Change – Ending Sexual and Gender-Based Violence and Harmful Practice in Central Asia regional programme focuses on creation of Central Asia-wide mechanism engaging governments, civil society, activists, survivors, youth, men, and faith based leaders to come together across borders to transform prevention, response and the provision of services, close the data gap on SGBV alongside broader efforts to ensure grassroots women's engagement in the elimination of violence against women and girls. The programme is built to leverage the collective strengths and expertise of UNDP, UNFPA and UN Women.

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