Violence Against Women and Girls

Violence against women and girls (VAWG) affects one-third of all women globally in their lifetimes and is one of the leading causes of death and disability of women of all ages. Women who experience intimate partner violence are twice as likely to experience depression and 16 percent more likely to have a low birth weight baby. Violence against women also contributes to women’s poverty and to that of their families and communities (World Health Organization).

As an integral part of our commitment to improve the lives of urban girls and women, WomenStrong’s Learning Lab will include a focus on learning and sharing solutions for eliminating VAWG across the globe.

Through WomenStrong’s work to-date with founding members in Kenya, Ghana, and India, we have seen firsthand how programs in other sectors, such as economic empowerment, can be infused with elements designed to address some of the underlying drivers of violence. Our members found that they had a greater impact on improving the lives of women and families when they integrated violence prevention activities or linked with others working on VAWG.

Solutions practiced and tested by our new members in the VAWG Learning Lab, to launch in early 2020, will include working with female changemakers to address violence among vulnerable populations and with powerful sexual assault prevention initiatives that address deep-seated gender stereotypes in educational and community settings.

Please revisit this page in early 2020, when we launch our Violence Against Women and Girls’ Lab, for more information about our work in this area, including links to best practices and research.