Advocates for an end to violence against women and girls (VAWG).

The Violence Against Women and Girls Working Group (VAWG) brings together UK-based NGOs and civil society organisations working on international VAWG/GBV to influence the UK Government to put VAWG at the forefront of their policy and practice and the international agenda, with an approach to policy and programming that is intersectional, feminist and decolonial.

The Violence Against Women and Girls Working Group:

  • Advocates for the UK Government to make ending VAWG internationally a priority with a robust, coordinated and adequately resourced approach to tackling VAWG across Whitehall, including the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the Home Office.

  • Campaigns for the UK to drive action to eliminate VAWG through meaningful multilateral engagement and leadership in key UK and international spaces, whilst providing sector expertise to shape UK policy and engagement strategies.

  • Develops recommendations for the UK Government on women's rights and gender equality that encompass both VAWG frameworks and transformative GBV approaches, including holding government accountable to the institutionalisation of gender equality and the achievement of gender equality markers in Official Development Assistance (ODA) spending.

Co-chairs

Penelope Neves, ActionAid UK

We are currently recruiting a co-chair.

Join

Working Groups are open to all members. You can join as many groups as you wish.

To join the Violence Against Women and Girls Working Group, or find out more, email coordinator@gadnetwork.org (specify VAWG Working Group).

About the issue

Learn about violence against women and girls and see resources from GADN members and others.

Violence Against Women and Girls’ Working Group resources

Featured
Developing a life course approach to women’s rights and gender equality

November 2018

Think piece: Kate Horstead, Age International, considers the impact of structural inequalities across the entire life course, suggesting that this is an important area that needs more research and analysis.

GADN responds to DFID's Strategic Vision on Women and Girls

July 2017

GADN was invited to comment on the way forward for the UK Department for International Development's (DFID) Strategic Vision for Women and Girls.

VAWG and Humanitarian working groups provide evidence to Lords Sexual Violence in Conflict Committee

March 2016

The VAWG and Humanitarian Working Groups submitted written evidence for a House of Lords’ Select Committee on Sexual Violence in Conflict Inquiry. The submission addresses the causes of sexual violence in conflict (SVC), prevention of SVC, the needs of survivors of SVC, women’s participation and accountability for SVC.

VAWG and Post-2015 working groups call for removal of age caps in SDG indicators

January 2016

Writing to Baroness Verma, Ministerial Champion for Tackling VAWG Overseas, the two GADN working groups emphasise the importance of ensuring women and men of all ages are adequately represented in measuring the goals and targets of the SDGs. 

Turning Promises into Progress

Gender equality and rights for women and girls - lessons learnt and actions needed. A joint report with Gender Action for Peace and Security (GAPS UK) and the UK Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Network.

UNGA Review Event on the Call to Action on Violence against Women and Girls in Emergencies

September 2014

This briefing discusses how all donors and humanitarian actors participating in the Call to Action can take further steps to translate high level commitments to change on the ground, with the ultimate goal of improving the life, safety, dignity and resilience of women, girls and GBV survivors in current emergencies, including survivors of harmful practices like such as early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM).

VAWG: Your Questions, Our Answers

June 2014

The GADN Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) working group have launched the publication 'Harmful Traditional Practices, Your Questions: Our Answers', providing an overview of harmful traditional practices, explaining their causes and consequences and bringing together examples of successful approaches to addressing them.

VAWG factsheets

March 2013

The VAWG working group prepared factsheets on key issues ahead of CSW57 in 2013.

Guidance Notes: Violence against women and girls

May 2012

1) A Theory of Change for Tackling Violence against Women and Girls

2) A Practical Guide on Community Programming on Violence against Women and Girls

3) Guidance on Monitoring and Evaluation for Programming on Violence against Women and Girls

Violence Against Women and Girls: Your Questions, Our Answers
Violence Against Women and Girls: Your Questions, Our Answers

2011

Violence against women and girls affects one in three women world-wide and is one of the most widespread abuses of human rights globally. It is violence that is directed at a woman because she is a woman or that affects women disproportionately.

All Working Groups

📷 GADN Members Meeting on worker’s rights and women’s rights (April 2019)