United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women

In 2025, UN Women advanced efforts to prevent and respond to femicide and other gender-related killings through strengthened legal, policy and—especially—data frameworks. Building on the UN Statistical Framework for Measuring Gender-related Killings of Women and Girls, implementation continued across 11 pilot countries in all world regions (Albania, Chile, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Kenya, Mongolia, Senegal and Uruguay) improving the availability and comparability of national data.

Key 2025 activities include the first global meeting on femicide, jointly organized with UNODC, with 25 countries represented (through NSOs and/or law enforcement agencies) and eight regional and international organizations. The meeting informed the development of implementation guidance to be released in early 2026, including work toward a supplement addressing technology-facilitated violence and femicide. 

At global level, UN Women and UNODC continued the annual publication of global femicide estimates, and 2025 estimates were widely disseminated during the 16 Days of Activism, reinforcing evidence-based advocacy and policy action to address gender-related killings. 

In 2025, UN Women continued shaping global normative frameworks on EVAWG through sustained engagement in intergovernmental processes and policy platforms. Support to United Nations General Assembly and Human Rights Council processes, alongside engagement with the EDVAW Platform and its members from independent global and regional mechanisms, strengthened international standards, including emerging issues such as technology-facilitated violence against women and girls.

These efforts contributed to concrete normative advances, including 205 Member State commitments under the Beijing+30 Action Agenda, of which a third were made under the Zero Violence Agenda, and strengthened integration of gender equality considerations in 45% of General Assembly and 82% of Human Rights Council resolutions. UN Women also contributed to the adoption of the African Union Convention on the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls, reinforcing global and regional legal frameworks.

Partnerships with regional bodies, justice networks and civil society further supported the development of investigative standards and strengthened implementation of human rights frameworks addressing violence against women. Through the EU-funded ACT programme, 179 women’s rights organizations helped shape the outcomes of 20 global and regional normative and policy processes on ending violence against women and girls, strengthening accountability and service delivery through amplified feminist advocacy.

Overall, these efforts reinforced international norms and standards, ensured continued global commitment to advancing EVAWG agendas, and strengthened the coherence and responsiveness of policy frameworks to emerging and evolving forms of violence, including through an analytical review of latest global and regional normative developments on technology-facilitated violence against women and girls. 

In 2025, UN Women significantly expanded evidence-based prevention and advocacy to address the root causes of violence against women and girls. Building on the RESPECT framework, prevention efforts were scaled and adapted across regions, including Latin America and the Caribbean, and reinforced through the rollout of an updated RESPECT 2.0 framework, integrating new evidence, humanitarian applications and intersectional risk mitigation approaches. 

UN Women supported 93 countries to develop or implement prevention strategies and action plans, alongside the development of a dedicated global prevention strategy positioning prevention as a central pillar across normative, coordination and operational work. 

Capacity-building efforts included a regional Training of Trainers in West and Central Africa, equipping stakeholders from 15 countries (with reach across 24 countries) to implement evidence-based prevention programming. The RESPECT Framework was localized and adapted to Latin America and the Caribbean, integrating concrete policy examples from the region and building capacities of government authorities, public servants, and civil society to implement the evidence‑based interventions promoted by the framework in Bolivia, Chile, and Ecuador. 

Community-based programming, youth engagement, and partnerships with civil society, faith actors and local institutions contributed to shifts in harmful social norms, including through 76 initiatives across 39 countries globally. Concrete country-level results included:

• In Malawi, 1,893 child marriages were dissolved, enabling girls’ return to school
• In Pakistan, over 80 stakeholders across six provinces contributed to the development of a National Prevention Action Plan

UN Women also strengthened its global convening and advocacy role, including through implementation of the EU-funded ACT programme supporting feminist movements and countering backlash. High-level advocacy engagements, including global events with over 150 participants, advanced commitments to safe work environments and accelerated ratification of ILO Convention 190.

Innovative approaches—including engagement with men and boys, private sector partnerships and storytelling initiatives—further reinforced prevention as a central pillar linking policy, community engagement and behavior change.

Overall, these efforts strengthened prevention ecosystems by connecting policy frameworks, evidence generation, community mobilization and global advocacy to drive sustainable change.

In 2025, UN Women strengthened data systems and research on violence against women and girls to support evidence-based policy and programming, focusing on improving the availability and use of prevalence, administrative and qualitative data and advancing global standards, including the statistical framework on femicide. 

As part of broader investments in gender data, UN Women increased SDG 5 data availability by over 60% since 2022, supported by 110 data initiatives in 2025. Key EVAWG data achievements included updating the Global Database on VAWG with country profiles for 154 countries, producing new global, regional and country estimates on intimate partner and non-partner violence in partnership with WHO, and strengthening institutional capacity through methodologies, consultations, and dissemination. UN Women complemented this with innovative pilots on femicide and technology-facilitated violence against women and girls (see under respective thematic measures) and technical support to national data production initiatives in 33 countries.

Innovations advanced measurement and methods on femicide, technology-facilitated violence, sexual harassment, and violence based on diverse SOGIESC, alongside regional and global capacity strengthening—reaching 319 data producers and users through workshops and knowledge exchange. Evidence generated through these efforts supported policy influence, with gender data informing 60 policies, plans and programmes in 2025, including reforms and improved survivor services linked to survey evidence in countries such as Georgia, Kyrgyzstan and the United Republic of Tanzania. 

Overall, these advances strengthened the global evidence base for targeted interventions, accountability and more effective prevention and response to violence against women and girls.

In 2025, UN Women strengthened UN system-wide coordination on EVAWG through its leadership of inter-agency mechanisms and global partnerships. As Secretariat of the UN Inter-agency Working Group on EVAWG, it sustained collaboration across UN entities to advance coherent policy and programmatic approaches, including through engagement in UN Action to promote survivor-centred responses and address emerging risks such as technology-facilitated and conflict-related sexual violence. 

Whole-of-system efforts to EVAWG were captured through the update of the UN Inventory of Activities to EVAWG and analyzed through joint assessment with the Spotlight initiative which resulted in the first brief on progress to EVAWG by the UN System.

Coordination efforts contributed to results across 135 countries supported under the Strategic Plan, alongside strengthened UN system accountability reflected in a 105% increase in UNCT-SWAP reporting (125 countries). UN Women also played a leading role in global partnerships, including co-leadership of the Generation Equality Action Coalition on Gender-Based Violence and engagement in the Global Partnership for Action on Online Gender-Based Harassment and Abuse.

At regional and country levels, UN Women supported the operationalization of inter-agency coordination platforms, including task forces and structures, aligning prevention, response and advocacy efforts. Joint programmes and partnerships demonstrated continued multi-agency delivery, including follow-up to the Spotlight Initiative and migration-focused initiatives. 

UN Women continued to coordinate the Secretary-General campaign UNiTE to end violence against women on behalf of the UN System. In 2025, the Campaign delivered its largest global activation during the 16 Days of Activism, focusing on digital violence through the #NoExcuse for Online Abuse theme. Marking Beijing+30, it positioned online abuse as a systemic human rights issue requiring prevention, accountability and survivor-centred responses. The campaign achieved exceptional reach, with web audiences growing sixfold to 3.5 million users, 424 million media reach, and 7.9 million social media impression

Through coordinated programming, the EU-funded ACT programme strengthened 757 women’s rights organizations and supported 179 organizations to influence 20 global and regional policy processes, including CSW69, the Beijing+30 Action Agenda and HLPF outcomes. Coordination was further reinforced through Spotlight Initiative Phase 2, where UN Women co-chaired the global Advisory Body and supported implementation of USD 19.3 million (25% of total programme funding) across multiple country and regional programmes.

These efforts strengthened system-wide coherence, accountability and collective impact in advancing EVAWG commitments across the UN system.

In 2025, UN Women expanded training and capacity-building to strengthen institutional responses to EVAWG, building on the Essential Services Package and focusing on coordinated, survivor-centred service delivery across health, justice, policing and social sectors.

Across 40 countries, UN Women supported large-scale capacity development, with over 650 organizations strengthening their ability to deliver quality services, goods and resources for women and girls. Targeted initiatives focused on frontline actors, including police, prosecutors, justice officials, service providers and civil society organizations, enhancing capacities in areas such as gender-responsive policing, case management, and psychosocial support.

Concrete results included:

• Distribution of 8,900 gender-sensitive investigation guidelines in Viet Nam, alongside training of police officers
• Training of 60 police personnel in Pakistan on survivor-centred approaches
• Awareness-raising for 80+ members of the UN Strategic Police Advisory Group
• The European Union and UN-Women ACT to End Violence Against Women programme reinforced the leadership, advocacy and capacities of 757 women’s rights organizations, funding 60 of them.

Institutional learning and coordination were further strengthened through innovative approaches, including peer exchange, regional knowledge-sharing and tailored training programmes. The High-Level Network on Gender-Responsive Policing expanded to 22 Member States, reinforcing senior-level commitment to survivor-centred and gender-responsive approaches.

These efforts contributed to improved institutional readiness, enhanced coordination across sectors, and strengthened the quality, consistency and accessibility of services for survivors, including in crisis and complex settings, while supporting the scaling of best practices across regions.

In 2025, UN Women continued to support the strengthening of legal frameworks addressing violence against women and girls, translating global standards into national legislation and reinforcing accountability.

In2025, UN Women’s support translated into 32 countries adopting, revising or repealing laws to strengthen the national legal framework on EVAWG. Cumulatively over UN Women’s 2022-2025 strategic note, 148 VAWG-related laws across 29 countries strengthened legal protections, benefiting an estimated 1.36 billion women and girls.

Progress included major normative advances at regional and global levels, notably the adoption of the African Union Convention on the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls, as well as regional instruments such as the Inter-American Model Law on digital violence, contributing to increased legal harmonization and responsiveness to emerging forms of violence. A regional panorama of comprehensive laws on violence against women was conducted across Latin American and Caribbean countries, providing an evidence base to inform public policy design and decision‑making by policymakers.

UN Women also supported legislative reforms addressing evolving challenges, including technology-facilitated violence, conflict-related violence and harmful practices, while working to safeguard existing legal gains in a context of backlash. These efforts were supported by strengthened engagement with civil society, including through the EU-funded ACT programme, which enabled feminist priorities to shape legal and policy outcomes.

Country-level examples include strengthened legislation in Albania, improving protections against violence and enabling women’s political participation.

Overall, these legal reforms enhanced accountability, strengthened protections for survivors, and ensured greater alignment of national legislation with international human rights standards, while improving responsiveness to new and evolving forms of violence against women and girls.

In 2025, UN Women strengthened survivor-centred responses through expanded access to integrated, multisectoral services, scaling implementation of the Essential Services Package and supporting national systems to improve coordination across health, justice, policing and social sectors.

These efforts reached over 14 million women and girls, including 7.4 million in crisis contexts, and expanded support across 59 countries, strengthening the availability and quality of coordinated services. Innovative delivery models—including one-stop centres, specialized services and digital solutions—enhanced accessibility, particularly in humanitarian and complex settings.

Examples of country level results include: 

• a 51.5% increase in survivors accessing services in Kazakhstan, driven by improved referral pathways and service availability, and
• 10,534 women accessing GBV services in Côte d’Ivoire, illustrating expanded reach in crisis and development contexts.

New global tools further strengthened service delivery, including guidance on survivor-centred counselling and ethical survivor engagement frameworks, supporting improved quality, accountability and inclusiveness of services. Capacity-building initiatives for institutions and frontline providers enhanced consistency and effectiveness of responses across sectors. Investigation protocols were developed in Latin America and the Carribean for gender‑based violence, in collaboration with the gender‑specialized network of public prosecutors, strengthening institutional capacity and coordination within justice systems.

Complementary programming also reinforced safer environments and integrated service delivery, including Safe Cities initiatives implemented in 40+ countries, with new programmes launched in Guatemala, Panama, Zanzibar and India, and engagement of 150+ leaders from 21 countries to advance coordinated action.

Overall, these efforts improved access to justice, protection and support for survivors, strengthened system-wide coordination, and reinforced survivor-centred approaches at scale across diverse contexts.

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.

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.

In 2025, UN Women advanced a comprehensive response to technology-facilitated violence against women and girls (TF VAWG), strengthening legal, policy, research and advocacy frameworks while consolidating its global leadership in this rapidly evolving area.

Key achievements included the development of the first corporate strategy on TF VAWG, alongside the production of model legal frameworks through global guidance resulting from extensive global and regional expert consultations and the development and adoption of the Inter-American Model Law on Digital Violence by the States Parties to the Belém do Pará Convention, as well as police guidance, global surveys and analytical tools to support Member States in integrating TF VAWG into national legislation and policy frameworks. This work was reinforced through engagement in global processes such as the Global Digital Compact and through partnerships with governments, civil society and the private sector, including by acting as the policy lead of the Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment and Abuse. 

These efforts built on comprehensive analysis and evidence-generation, notably on global and regional normative frameworks, government efforts to tackle TF VAWG, and emerging practices globally from relevant stakeholders. UN Women also spearheaded critical research including on AI-enabled violence and a global study on online violence against women in the public sphere. These efforts contributed to advancing standardized definitions and measurement, strengthening the global knowledge base on digital violence.

Through programmes such as the EU-funded ACT initiative, UN Women also strengthened the capacity of feminist movements and civil society actors to address online violence and counter backlash. Prevention efforts included global advocacy campaigns, engagement with men and boys, and partnerships targeting online misogyny and harmful digital norms.

Concrete results included capacity-building and awareness-raising at scale, such as over 10,000 girls trained on digital safety in Nigeria and Kenya, and expanded outreach through global campaigns, with the UNiTE campaign reaching 3.5 million web users (+467%) and generating 7.9 million impressions. 

At country level, a few examples include:

• in Bolivia, UN Women supported the national response to TF VAWG by developing a participatory national policy and toolkit, generating new evidence through the first nationwide survey and digital analysis, training over 500 officials with specialized guidance and materials, and implementing a wide-reaching, culturally grounded communication strategy to raise awareness and prevention;
• in Mexico, UN Women strengthened the national response to TF GBV by generating new evidence through a scoping study, co-developing a Strategic Roadmap with the Secretary of Women, and advancing policy recommendations for prevention, access to justice and platform accountability. It also led the “Es Real. #EsViolenciaDigital” campaign, which reached 38.4 million views in Mexico and expanded access to safety and reporting resources.

Overall, these efforts strengthened global standards, enhanced institutional responses, and advanced integrated approaches to preventing and responding to technology-facilitated violence against women and girls.