UN Women Asia-Pacific Champions Evidence-Based Solutions at SVRI Forum 2024

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Participants of the panel “Together for Prevention Cross-Regional Learning Exchange on National Action Plans to end Violence against Women and Girls” hosted at the SVRI Forum 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa.
Participants of the panel “Together for Prevention Cross-Regional Learning Exchange on National Action Plans to end Violence against Women and Girls” hosted at the SVRI Forum 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa. Photo: UN Women/Diego De La Rosa

In October 2024, UN Women’s regional team in Asia and the Pacific dedicated to Ending Violence against Women joined together with experts, advocates, governments, UN agencies, and regional and global networks to delve deep into the current evidence, learning and practice informing policies and approaches designed to end violence against women and children.

Experts from governments and civil society with remarkable experience shaping national strategies to end violence against women took the stage alongside UN Women’s Regional Offices for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP) and East and Southern Africa (ESARO) at the Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI) Forum in Cape Town, South Africa. The event brought these thought leaders together to explore promising strategies and tactics to coordinate evidence-based responses to violence against women and girls (VAWG).

Key contributions included the Together for Prevention Cross-Regional Learning Exchange, where government representatives and civil society leaders from Asia and Africa regions shared lessons on implementing National Action Plans to Prevent Violence against Women and Girls. The session underscored the need for evidence-based strategies, survivor-centered approaches, and multisectoral coordination to achieve lasting results.

Felicity Errington, First Secretary, Gender Equality and Disability Equity, DFAT
Loksee Leung, Senior Manager for Research and Evaluation, The Equality Institute

Melissa Alvarado, EVAW Regional Programme Manager, UN Women Asia-Pacific
H.E. Nhean Sochetra, Director General, Dept. Social Dev, Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Cambodia

UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific presented groundbreaking regional guidance on social work services that integrate and coordinate on the intersections of violence against women and children. Developed with ASEAN, UNICEF, and UNFPA, this guidance supports ASEAN Member States in delivering coordinated and inclusive responses to violence in families. See the presentation.

Another highlight was the workshop on Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV), co-facilitated with WHO and UNFPA. This session focused on the critical need for data-driven, evidence-based, and survivor-centered approaches to address the growing challenges of TF GBV and ensure women’s safety and meaningful engagement in digital spaces. See the presentation.

SVRI Forum 2024 Poster

UN Women Asia-Pacific's participation in SVRI culminated with a poster presentation on delivering essential services for survivors of violence, where representatives from East and Southern Africa and Asia shared insights from applying the standards outlined in the Essential Services Package for Women and Girls Subject to Violence. The event reinforced the transformative potential of the UN Essential Services Package as a framework for providing coordinated, survivor-centered care. See the poster here.

"Bringing the voices and experiences from the Asia-Pacific region to the global stage is essential to advancing the collective fight against violence. The SVRI Forum 2024 provided a vital platform for showcasing innovative, evidence-based approaches and fostering cross-regional collaboration,” said Melissa Alvarado, Regional Programme Manager on Ending Violence against Women at UN Women Asia-Pacific. “By sharing promising practices and learning from each other, we can create stronger, more effective solutions to prevent violence and support survivors worldwide," she added.

During the Forum, UN Women shared learning and knowledge to advance efforts to end violence against women and girls. Covering crucial themes like data collection, prevention, response, and partnerships, these resources address key gaps and provide actionable guidance and tools for stakeholders.  Click here to see a compilation of UN Women’s resources.

Through these contributions, UN Women Asia-Pacific reaffirmed its leadership in evidence-based policymaking, regional collaboration, and advocacy for investment in ending VAWG.

The discussions and resources shared at SVRI Forum 2024 will inform global efforts ahead of the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference for the Beijing +30 review, driving progress toward a world free from violence against women and girls.