As COVID-19 exposes the fault lines of gender equality, a strong focus on violence against women at the UN General Assembly

Research shows that due to the crisis, many women’s organizations, crisis centers, helplines and shelters have had severe funding cuts and are struggling to continue service delivery. For example, a recent survey in the UK indicates that 76 per cent of front-line services for survivors of violence have had to reduce their service delivery due to COVID-19. Civil society organizations are reporting that one of the most significant drivers of violence against women and girls in the COVID-19 context is the economic impact on families and communities. Boosted funding for civil society organizations who are on the front line of the pandemic response was highlighted by UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka as she shared the latest report from the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women. From Ethiopia to Tunisia, from Mongolia to Bangladesh, the latest assessments with inputs from 144 CSOs funded by the UNTF in 69 countries released today, shows a continued and significant increase in reports of violence, and need for additional funds and services to meet the demand. In May 2020, in partnership with the Spotlight Initiative and the European Union, the UN Trust Fund allocated an additional USD 9 million for immediate support to all of its existing grantees in sub-Saharan Africa. Today, UN Women Executive Director announced that the UN Trust fund will invest a further USD 11 million.

forces on a common blueprint to end violence against women and girls that gives us tangible action, flexible funding and measurable results. It will take all of us working together on this: the UN, with governments, the private sector, faith leaders’ networks, philanthropic organizations and civil society.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN Women.