On 27 November 2024, the European Union’s InfoPoint in Brussels hosted an event commemorating the 25th anniversary of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. This occasion also celebrated six years of the Spotlight Initiative—a transformative collaboration between the United Nations and the European Union dedicated to eradicating violence against women and girls. Representatives from the UN Spotlight Secretariat, including the Director of UN Women Brussels, Florence Raes, reflected on the achievements of the Initiative and outlined plans for its next phase.
In her remarks, Florence Raes emphasised the transformative power of partnerships: “Women’s rights issues require a comprehensive approach. Through a financial commitment and a dedication to women’s rights organisations on the ground, this Initiative shows that cooperation works.”
The conference showcased the Initiative’s profound impact since its 2017 launch, revealing that its comprehensive and multi-sectoral approach has become a global model for tackling gender-based violence. With 26 country programs, six regional programs, and two initiatives with UN Trust Funds, the Spotlight Initiative has delivered substantial, sustainable results. Its achievements have earned it recognition as one of the 12 High-Impact Initiatives impacting all Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Read the impact report, ‘Unprecedented: A Pathway for Ending Violence against Women and Girls‘.
A Model for Transformative Change
The first phase of the Spotlight Initiative, which concluded in 2023, demonstrated the effectiveness of tackling violence through systemic interventions. Highlights include:
- Policy Overhaul: Strengthening over 540 laws and policies to address violence against women and girls.
- Grassroots Empowerment: Directing nearly half of its $500+ million funding to civil society, particularly grassroots women’s rights organizations.
- Community Outreach: Engaging 384 million individuals through awareness campaigns that challenge harmful gender norms.
- Justice and Services: Doubling conviction rates for perpetrators of gender-based violence across 13 countries and enabling nearly 3 million women and girls to access essential services, including medical care, legal assistance, counselling, and long-term recovery support.
- Movement Building: Enhancing the influence and agency of over 5,000 local and grassroots women’s rights organizations.
The Initiative’s education and engagement programs also reached nearly 6 million men and boys, promoting positive masculinity and non-violent conflict resolution while involving almost 8 million young people in initiatives to foster gender-equitable attitudes and behaviours.
The Spotlight Initiative’s comprehensive approach has been 70 to 90 per cent more effective than project-based or siloed methods. This systemic strategy is poised to achieve even more significant milestones. By 2025, it is conservatively estimated that the Initiative will have prevented 21 million women and girls from experiencing gender-based violence and helped nearly one million girls to stay in school.
The Path Forward: Spotlight 2.0
As the Initiative transitions into its second phase, the EU and UN have reaffirmed their commitment to scaling up actions against all forms of gender-based violence. Key features of the second phase include:
- The launch of the Global Learning Centre, designed to guide the development of comprehensive programs to eliminate violence.
- Expanding geographical reach to underserved regions while enhancing data-driven interventions.
- Continuing support for grassroots organizations and leveraging partnerships to mobilize additional resources.
This next phase aims to build on the momentum, ensuring that the lessons from phase one translate into broader and deeper impacts globally.
Why It Matters
The Spotlight Initiative stands as a beacon of hope and a powerful demonstration of what collaboration can achieve. By addressing the root causes of violence, empowering women’s movements, and supporting survivors, it has laid the foundation for sustainable progress. However, as Florence Raes underscored, achieving systemic change requires sustained commitment and partnership.
With a bold vision and proven methodology, the Spotlight Initiative is on track to transform the lives of millions more women and girls. As the world continues to rally behind this critical mission, the Initiative’s second phase offers a renewed opportunity to eliminate violence against women and girls for good.