Sexual Violence

Sexual violence is perpetrated around the world on girls and women of all ages and all backgrounds. Various traditional practices around the world constitute, result in, or perpetuate sexual violence against women and girls. It is also promoted, glamorized and normalized through popular media.

Equality Now works to end such violence both through prevention and effective response. Since violence against women is both a cause and a consequence of the inequality women experience, our work on advancing women's equality directly contributes to the prevention of such violence. In addition, we focus on ensuring that systems are in place to effectively address such violence through proper investigation, prosecution and punishment of perpetrators.

Recognizing that violence against adolescent girls presents additional challenges, not least in terms of its severe and potentially lifelong consequences, we work on stopping sexual violence against adolescent girls. Equality Now believes that girls deserve the full protection from their governments and communities that would enable them to live a life free of violence in their schools, communities and in their homes and realize their full potential.

Equality Now also opposes the glamorization and promotion of sexual violence against women and girls in the media and works to change negative stereotypes of women and girls that contribute to their objectification.

Other initiatives to end sexual violence:

>> Adolescent Girls’ Legal Defense Fund 

For information about past and completed campaigns in this program area, please see the actions archive.

Resources: For additional resources on sexual violence, please click here.