Support for Policy Development
Robust legal and policy frameworks are foundational to advancing gender equality and eliminating violence against women and girls. When national legislation is aligned with international standards grounded in inclusive, consultative processes, and responsive to diverse communities, it strengthens protections against and response to violence against women and girls. Ensuring that laws and policies are implemented and upheld is critical to promoting tangible outcomes for women and girls.
In 2025, Spotlight Initiative programmes supported progress in advancing legal and policy reforms. In Sierra Leone, the programme supported the review of the Matrimonial Causes Act (1960) through a nationwide participatory process engaging over 700 participants, informing proposed amendments to strengthen protections against economic and psychological violence and reinforce women's rights to marital property, particularly for rural women. Another example, in Uganda, six districts enacted GBV and violence against children ordinances, embedding enforceable local-level protections across district governments.
View MoreRobust legal and policy frameworks are foundational to advancing gender equality and eliminating violence against women and girls. When national legislation is aligned with international standards grounded in inclusive, consultative processes, and responsive to diverse communities, it strengthens protections against and response to violence against women and girls. Ensuring that laws and policies are implemented and upheld is critical to promoting tangible outcomes for women and girls.
In 2025, Spotlight Initiative programmes supported progress in advancing legal and policy reforms. In Sierra Leone, the programme supported the review of the Matrimonial Causes Act (1960) through a nationwide participatory process engaging over 700 participants, informing proposed amendments to strengthen protections against economic and psychological violence and reinforce women's rights to marital property, particularly for rural women. Another example, in Uganda, six districts enacted GBV and violence against children ordinances, embedding enforceable local-level protections across district governments.
In 2025, UN Women supported Member States in strengthening multisectoral national policies and action plans on EVAWG, ensuring they were evidence-based, costed and aligned with international standards. Across regions, countries advanced gender-responsive governance frameworks that integrated EVAWG into national planning processes and strengthened institutional coordination mechanisms.
UN Women’s support translated into the adoption of 98 EVAWG policies and action plans across 41 countries, with an additional 93 countries advancing prevention strategies and 59 countries strengthening survivor-centred service systems.
These efforts translated into tangible results, including 2 billion women and girls living in countries taking new steps to prevent violence, and 43 countries improving service delivery systems for survivors.
View MoreIn 2025, UN Women supported Member States in strengthening multisectoral national policies and action plans on EVAWG, ensuring they were evidence-based, costed and aligned with international standards. Across regions, countries advanced gender-responsive governance frameworks that integrated EVAWG into national planning processes and strengthened institutional coordination mechanisms.
UN Women’s support translated into the adoption of 98 EVAWG policies and action plans across 41 countries, with an additional 93 countries advancing prevention strategies and 59 countries strengthening survivor-centred service systems.
These efforts translated into tangible results, including 2 billion women and girls living in countries taking new steps to prevent violence, and 43 countries improving service delivery systems for survivors.
Policy innovation also linked EVAWG to broader development agendas, including social norms change, care systems, economic empowerment and political participation, contributing to more integrated, comprehensive and sustainable national responses.
This scale of policy support reflects UN Women’s sustained contribution to institutionalizing prevention and response frameworks, strengthening enabling environments and advancing coordinated national action to end violence against women and girls.
UNFPA Algeria has made significant progress in strengthening its national response to GBV by developing and finalising Intersectoral Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). These SOPs establish a formal bridge between the Ministry of Justice, the National Gendarmerie (DGSN), and the Ministry of Health, creating a unified framework for prevention and response.
View MoreUNFPA Algeria has made significant progress in strengthening its national response to GBV by developing and finalising Intersectoral Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). These SOPs establish a formal bridge between the Ministry of Justice, the National Gendarmerie (DGSN), and the Ministry of Health, creating a unified framework for prevention and response.