Dear John
Sexual violence and misogyny are a global epidemic.
Over her lifetime, one in three women will experience physical or sexual violence — regardless of age, background, or country. However, despite the pervasiveness of these crimes, laws around the world are insufficient, inconsistent, not systematically enforced, and in some instances, even promote and perpetuate sexual violence.
Through our experience, we have learned that good laws are a critical starting point to establishing gender equality and eradicating sexual violence but they are the floor and not the ceiling of what we can achieve.
So, what can be done?
Because all acts of sexual violence are about power, control, and entitlement and not sexual desire, there are universal pillars that can be applied to preventing and ending the practice. At Equality Now we know that ending sexual violence everywhere requires three things:
- Good Laws - Laws that stigmatize victims and hinder the possibility for justice and accountability must be replaced by laws that reflect the true nature of sexual violence, absent negative stereotypes, and myths, and are informed by the experiences of survivors.
- Effective Implementation - We know that this work has to go beyond the law. Survivors often hesitate to report crimes even when they know they have the legal right to because they fear being shamed or disbelieved by authorities. Effective implementation of good laws will help to dismantle this barrier.
- Intersectionality - An intersectional lens must be integrated into laws, policies, and procedures and followed from the outset to ensure that a victim-centered approach that is free from prejudicial stereotypes is always applied. Every survivor is entitled to justice and support, and systems must be designed to cater for a diverse range of needs and identities.
So what can you do today?
As someone we know is committed to women's rights, we know you agree with us that sexual violence is never acceptable. We can’t tolerate that it keeps being justified, explained away, or swept under the rug.
- Share your commitment to ending sexual violence. Ahead of International Women’s Day, we’re raising our voices to call for action. Share our posts with your networks on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
- Explore our resources. From reports on gaps in rape laws in Eurasia, South Asia, and the Americas, to a manual for implementation of sexual violence laws in Georgia, our resource center is full of vital information and analysis on women’s rights.
- Be part of a global community of change-makers making gender equality a reality. Collaborating with a wide range of people and organizations enables us to learn from one another. Our network brings together women’s rights activists, lawyers, the judiciary, governments, multilateral governing bodies like the UN and the AU, and others. Join today and help us shape a future free of sexual violence.
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Thank you for being a huge part of our work and for your constant support and activism.
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In solidarity
Jacqui Hunt
Global Lead, End Sexual Violence
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PS: Want to wear your feminism with pride this International Women's Day? United in our shared commitment to a more gender-equal world, the UK-based social activist jewelry company Tatty Devine and Equality Now have co-created a jewelry collection to support our work to end sexual violence. Help us raise funds and awareness by wearing them this International Women’s Day! Purchase the collection.
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