UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK – During the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, Spotlight Initiative co-hosted a high-level side event to mobilize new commitments towards gender-based violence prevention and response.
‘Full Speed Ahead: A Global Partnership to Eliminate Violence Against Women and Girls’ was co-hosted with the European Union (EU) and African Union (AU), celebrating the 25th anniversary of their partnership and the second phase of the Spotlight Initiative Africa Regional programme.
Journalist and Moderator Folly Bah Thibault welcomed guests. “Today, we celebrate progress but we also know the urgency — that violence against women and girls is one of the most pervasive human rights violations in the world.”
In her opening address, AU Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development Amma Twum-Amoah said that “in Africa, 40 per cent of women report gender-based violence, with young women and girls disproportionately affected. This is not only a human rights crisis but a development crisis.”
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She called on those gathered to “renew our commitment to a future where women and girls live free from fear, their talents are fully realized, and their leadership drives Africa’s political economic and social renewal.”
EU Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela spoke about the success of the Initiative: “It is not often that we can measure the of an investment in terms of lives saved, yet each year, Spotlight Initiative saves the lives of at least 1,800 women.” But he warned that the road ahead would be difficult. “The global landscape for gender equality grows more hostile by the day,” said Mr. Síkela. “Decades of hard won progress are being threatened by rising violence both online and offline and by the shrinking space for civil society. We cannot let this happen.”
In a recorded message, the UN Deputy-Secretary General Amina J. Mohammed reiterated that “we know change is possible – Spotlight Initiative proved it.”
“No headwind is stronger than the will of women demanding change and justice. This is a moment to stand firm. We need your political leadership to pass and enforce laws that protect. Your investment to expand and sustain proven programmes. We need your voice to say without hesitation: gender-based violence ends here,” said Ms. Mohammed. “Spotlight Initiative is ready to go further, but it needs more champions to drive even more action.”
Chief Minister of Sierra Leone David Moinina Sengeh delivered remarks on behalf of President Julius Maada Bio. “Spotlight Initiative has amplified community voices, strengthened institutions and provided hope where silence once prevailed,” said Mr. Senegeh. “As we celebrate this momentous partnership between the AU and the EU and launch the Spotlight Initiative Africa Regional Programme 2.0, Sierra Leone adds its voice to the call. Let us scale up investment, deepen multilateral cooperation and move full speed ahead until no woman or girl lives in fear of violence.”
Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Liberia, Gbeme Horace-Kollie, addressed the need for national ownership of interventions to end violence against women and girls and the urgency of transformative change. “Liberia stands ready to continue this journey with all its partners, working towards a future where every woman and girl can live free from fear,” said Ms. Horace-Kollie.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Belgium, Maxime Prévot, spoke about the shared challenge of ending gender-based violence. “From girls denied education in Afghanistan and Gaza, to female genital mutilation in Senegal or Burkina Faso, to women all around the world seeking seeking justice, this fight is universal. Belgium remains firmly committed.”
“Initiatives like Spotlight Initiative are crucial to unify governments because ending violence against women and girls is not only right – it is a condition for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals,” said Mr. Prévot.
President of the International Olympic Committee Kirsty Coventry said: “Sport is a mirror of society and while it is not immune from violence, it can be part of the solution.” Ms. Coventry added that the IOC was deepening its engagement with the UN: “Together with Spotlight Initiative, we will expand the contribution of sport to ending violence against women and girls through advocacy, training and direct support to community programmes.”
Spotlight Initiative Global Reference Group Member Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi spoke to the impact of the Initiative in her home country of Nigeria. “Spotlight Initiative has demonstrated the gains of partnership and that’s what we’re celebrating today. The gains of a bottom up approach, the gains of resilience and the gains of pushing head.”
Actress and UN Global Advocate for Spotlight Initiative Cecilia Suárez addressed the impact of tech-facilitated and digital violence on women and children. “We know that violence against women and girls online has the exact same impact as violence that is experienced offline. The repercussions reach the same magnitude, they are just as bad,” she said, calling for urgent regulatory and legal frameworks.
A panel discussion took place afterward on the subject of violence in digital spaces.
Astronaut, Activist and CEO and Founder of Rise, Amanda Nguyễn spoke about giving up her dream of becoming an astronaut after being raped as a student at Harvard and the ongoing harm that happens to survivors online. “Algorithms are not neutral. They are coded by people who may not have heard our stories, who may not be trauma-informed and what we get is the reality of today – that it is still difficult to be a survivor and talk about the stigma that we face.”
“We need men to join us in this fight,” said Ms. Suárez of the push to end violence everywhere.
Actress and Activist Uldouz Wallace said that “when it comes to the digital realm, abuse protections are pretty much non-existent” and called for regulations that address tech-facilitated gender-based violence before it happens.
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Equimundo CEO and President Gary Barker echoed Ms. Suárez’s call for men to step up: “We need more men to be called in to this conversation,” he said. “The majority of men are not carrying out [violence and harassment], but the majority of men are silent.”
Director at Vodafone Americas Foundation June Sugiyama spoke about how they’re harnessing technology to address violence, including the launch of the Bright Sky app to support survivors, their families and friends. “As a company, we’ve encouraged having a conversation and training [on GBV].”
UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous offered a closing statement: “Spotlight Initiative has been transformative for the United Nations in stepping up its efforts, showing us new ways of placing women’s rights organizations and movements at the heart of programming, and teaching us the power of a United Nations that delivers as one,” said Ms. Bahous.
Chief of the UNFPA Representative Office to the African Union, Saturnin Epié delivered remarks on behalf of Executive Director Diene Keita. “I ask you to be bold and unapologetic in advocating for increased investment in proven solutions… It is an investment that we simply cannot afford to miss,” said Mr. Epié.
“Spotlight Initiative is a true model of working better together. I look forward to renewed political momentum and strengthened partnerships from these discussions.”