Vision for Change: Ending Gender-Based Violence and Building Secure Futures 

In support of the UN’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence , World Vision reaffirms our commitment to ending violence against women and girls. Recognizing the profound impact of this issue on women and girls, we join in partnership with local and global leaders to turn the tide and end sexual and gender-based violence (GBV), securing brighter futures for women and girls around the globe. 

According to the UN , GBV not only undermines women’s physical and mental health and well-being but also hampers their professional development and economic empowerment. The links between poverty, financial stressors and hardships, and GBV are well established, with women facing disproportionately high risks of violence.  

But amidst this grim reality, there is a beacon of hope. This violence is preventable, and now, more than ever, we have access to actionable evidence and effective strategies to end it. The economic empowerment of women, together with approaches that foster equitable gender dynamics for lasting changes for women and girls, can serve as a protective factor against GBV.  

As a committed participant in the global movement against GBV, we join the UN and our global and local partners in calling for more investments in preventing violence against women and girls. We are committed not only to advocate for a vision for change but also create a safer and more just world for women and girls. 

At the core of our approach is the strategic integration of Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) across all sectoral programs. Our GESI Approach and Theory of Change not only addresses GBV but also cultivates enabling environments where women and girls are empowered to reach their full potential. The implementation of our GESI approach is crucial in building communities and a society that values equality and inclusivity.  

For example, our Safe and Nurturing schools approach ensures that girls, boys, and children with disabilities can safely continue their education, free from all forms of GBV in and around schools. The approach responds to and prevents school-related gender-based violence, working to create a positive school environment in which all children can fully develop their academic skills and increase the emotional confidence they require to thrive within their communities. The approach works through girls’ and boys' groups, providing teacher training and support, mobilizing communities to action, and using social accountability to promote a holistic process that supports equality and inclusion to prevent GBV.  

World Vision also invests in developing and implementing tools and solutions to increase access to education and literacy for children with disabilities. Through our partnership with USAID and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in All Children Reading , World Vision developed solutions like accessible digital books, including sign language storybooks, and adapted learning assessments designed to increase access to education and help children with disabilities learn to read. Our electronic program management and data collection tool, MEQA (Measuring Evidence of Quality Achieved), helps teachers and administrators assess if girls, boys, children with disabilities, and other excluded groups benefit equally from instruction and if learning environments support inclusion.  

Understanding the importance of inclusive engagement, World Vision also actively involves men and boys in transforming community and societal attitudes and behaviors. For example, in the Oromia region of Ethiopia, Ahmed Mumad, like many rural men, once held traditional beliefs that men were the sole decision-makers and women were responsible for all household chores and should endure beatings if necessary. However, through the intervention of USAID -funded SPIR II’s  Men’s Engagement Groups, Ahmed attended reflective and engaging discussions that challenged his thinking and harmful social norms. As a result, he was able to transform his attitudes and renew his fractured relationship with his family. His home underwent a positive transformation, reflecting the broader impact of engaging men to identify and change behaviors. Through these interventions, we address the root causes of GBV and foster a culture of respect and equality. (Read more of Ahmed's story here .)

A key collaboration in our work to eradicate GBV is our convening of faith-based organizations to develop and share promising practices aimed at preventing and responding to GBV, amplifying our collective impact, and fostering a culture of mutual respect and support.  

In a demonstration of that partnership and in collaboration with African Leadership and Reconciliation Ministries, Episcopal Relief and Development, International Justice Mission, Lutheran World Federation, and Tearfund, World Vision is hosting a virtual event on Tuesday, December 5, to share promising practices and engage with researchers and secular and faith actors to learn about programming and collaborative opportunities to end GBV. The consortium of faith-based actors, founded by World Vision and supported by Vista Hermosa Foundation, aims to identify action steps to ensure progress by faith-actors to end sexual and gender-based violence. 

We and our partners share a common vision for change. Join us in this critical mission:  

• Register now for our December 5 event.  
• View or download our Toolkit for Integrating GESI in Design, Monitoring and Evaluation for practical guidance to help you and your staff align relief and development programming with international GESI integration standards and best practices—including those to prevent sexual and GBV.  
• Follow our GESI experts—like Jacqueline Ogega, Ph.D. , Zayid Douglas , Juliet Baliebanoe, M.A , or Edward Winter —on LinkedIn.  
• Help us spread the word by sharing this and other articles on LinkedIn that raise awareness and highlight solutions to prevent and eliminate GBV. 

Together, we will not only end sexual and gender-based violence around the world but also build secure futures for women and girls—where they are valued, and their voices are heard.