Amid Pandemic-Related Spike in Gender-Based Crimes, Deputy Secretary-General Hails Newly Created ‘Group of Friends’ to Combat Violence against Women

Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, at the launch of the Group of Friends for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls, held today:

It is an honour to welcome you to the launch of the Group of Friends for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls.  I thank our partners at the European Union and Ambassador [Olof Skoog of Sweden] for their support for the Spotlight Initiative, which embodies the Secretary-General’s call and our joint vision for multilateral action towards ending all forms of violence against women and girls by 2030 and is the largest single investment in this issue globally.

Today’s meeting broadens the conversation and demonstrates your continuing leadership in galvanizing action towards achieving gender equality and the Sustainable Development Goals. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare the unfortunate truth that progress on ending violence against women and girls has been insufficient.  For months, many women have been trapped at home with their abusers, as survivor support services remain inaccessible to those who need them.  Lockdowns and rising economic hardships are putting more girls at risk of child marriage as impoverished families make impossible choices.

To meet these challenges, we have adapted our efforts around the world.  Following the Secretary-General’s global appeal for “peace at home” last April, the United Nations, in partnership with Member States, has advocated at the highest levels of Government for the inclusion of gender-based violence prevention in national COVID-19 response plans.

Through the Spotlight Initiative, we have moved survivor services online and implemented new technologies to protect women and girls from violence.  We have also adapted our policies and procedures to give frontline partners the additional flexibility and financial resources to deliver results in movement-restricted environments and have begun to engage new groups of influencers to shift the culture and attitudes that fuel this violence.

But we need to do more.  Through this Group of Friends, we intend to increase political advocacy, mobilize additional funds, share key lessons and increase multilateral action for more resilient and deeply rooted prevention and response effort.  I am confident that with political will and action from all of you here today, we will take decisive steps to end violence against women and girls.