Session Details

Spotlight Initiative will showcase its impressive results on ending violence against women and girls and as an accelerator for all the SDGs – proving that gender-based violence is not only preventable, but that we already have the tools we need to ensure every woman and girl lives a life free from violence. It’s time to invest in the solutions that we know work and bring them to scale.

This high-level event will feature statements and conversations with Heads of State, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed, leaders from the European Union and United Nations, actress and UN Global Advocate Cecilia Suárez; actress, filmmaker and philanthropist Natalie Portman; actress and UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador Ashley Judd; as well as leaders from civil society, the private sector and other partners.

It will feature musical performances by MILCK and Natasha Bedingfield and is hosted by Futurist Sinead Bovell.

Spotlight Initiative is a global United Nations initiative in partnership with the European Union and other partners. It aims to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls.

Point/s of contact |  Nahla Valji (valji@un.org); Philippe Lust-Bianchi (philippe.lustbianchi@un.org)

Please see session programme here

Violence against women and girls (VAWG) is among the most pervasive violations of human rights – globally, 1 in 3 women have been subjected to violence. In addition to the direct impact on their well-being, this also affects their participation in public life, labor force and politics, preventing them from accessing justice, education and security.

As the world’s largest effort to end VAWG, the Spotlight Initiative works through a comprehensive, whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, with concrete results on preventing and responding to violence against women while also supporting progress across education, reproductive health, economic empowerment, and more. With years of experience, the Initiative offers ‘proof of concept’ – not only to end VAWG, but to accelerate progress on the SDGs overall.

Please see here for additional information