The Spotlight Initiative Story

Futurist Sinead Bovell explains why Spotlight Initiative’s high-impact results to end violence against women and girls is essential to the achievement of all the Sustainable Development Goals.
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The global Spotlight Initiative to eliminate violence against women and girls is a United Nations high-impact initiative in partnership with the European Union and other partners.

Launched with a seed funding commitment of €500 million from the European Union, the Initiative represents an unprecedented global effort to invest in gender equality as a precondition and driver for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The 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 economic (labour) exploitation.

The Initiative’s comprehensive programming model across more than 25 countries is addressing legislative and policy gaps, strengthening institutions, promoting gender-equitable attitudes, and providing quality services for survivors. Interventions are also strengthening systems for collecting data on violence against women and girls and supporting women’s movements.

As a demonstration fund for action on the SDGs, we are demonstrating that a significant, concerted and comprehensive investment in gender equality and ending violence can make a transformative difference in the lives of women and girls.

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