Most human rights violations nowadays involve violence against women and girls. Worldwide, 25% of women have experienced violence of some kind during their lifetime, while in some countries this figure can be as high as 70%. In the European Union itself, one woman out of every three over the age of 15 has been the victim of a violent physical or sexual attack.

On 20 September 2017 the European Union and the United Nations launched a joint initiative at the UN General Assembly, called ‘Spotlight’, to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls.

Spotlight aims to reform the frameworks in place at institutional and financial level to protect women and girls. It will focus on domestic and family violence, harmful practices, human trafficking and sexual exploitation, and will be backed by a multi-partner trust fund to which the European Union will contribute EUR 500 million.

How does this initiative fit into the EU gender action plan?

What kinds of organisations and projects will receive funding from ‘Spotlight’?