One in three women worldwide has endured physical or sexual violence over the past decade.
(February 20, 2024) 14 CEOs representing the Irish Consortium of Gender-Based Violence (ICGBV) membership met at the Department of Foreign Affairs today for the annual Leaders Roundtable meeting. At this meeting, the leaders from international human rights, humanitarian, and development organisations comprising INGOs (including Trócaire, Oxfam, GOAL, Christian Aid and others), Irish Aid and the Irish Defence Forces, reviewed progress on implementation of the Consortium’s Strategic Plan (2021 – 2026), which focuses on the prevention and mitigation of, and response to gender based violence (GBV), and reaffirmed their commitment to sustained action at eradicating this global pandemic, which pervades every country and culture across the world.
WHO-derived data confirms that for the past decade, one in three women worldwide has endured physical or sexual violence, primarily at the hands of an intimate partner. This violence often begins at a young age, with one in four young women (aged 15-24 years) who have been in a relationship already experiencing violence from an intimate partner by the time they reach their mid-twenties.
Leaders committed to amplifying the voices of those affected by GBV, and championing support for women-centred and women-led grassroots organisations. By giving women more opportunities to influence policy and practice, the Consortium strengthens Ireland’s commitment to 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, especially SDG 5: Achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls.
Closing the Roundtable, Seán Fleming, Minister of State, Department of Foreign Affairs, with special responsibility for International Development and Diaspora, expressed his appreciation on the progress being made by the Consortium.
With development financing to end violence against women and girls remaining at less that 1% of ODA, Siobhan Walsh, CEO of GOAL Global and ICGBV Chair, said,
“Given the global crisis of Gender Based Violence, the ICGBV advocates for an increase in funding allocated to tackle GBV. We have to turn the tide on this crisis and to do this; we need to ask Governments to sustain and increase their support.’
Established in 2005, the ICGBV is an Irish-based alliance of international human rights, humanitarian, and development organisations which works to increase knowledge and understanding of violence against women and girls. Consortium members aim to achieve this by leveraging the Consortium’s Strategic Plan (2021 – 2026), which focuses on amplifying women’s voices and Survivor Cantered Accountability.
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