What is the Netherlands doing to combat violence against women worldwide? | Ministries
Blog post | 02-12-2022 | Ministry of Foreign Affairs
It is estimated that one in three women will experience physical or sexual abuse in her lifetime. That has to stop, says Pascalle Grotenhuis, ambassador for Women’s Rights and Gender Equality. Worldwide, the Netherlands supports civil society organizations that are committed to preventing and overcoming violence against women and girls.
During Orange the World, from November 25 to December 10, there is worldwide attention for this struggle. The campaign begins on International Day against Violence against Women and ends on International Human Rights Day.
Gender-based violence
Violence against women and girls is one of the most likely human rights violations in the world, says Pascalle. Gender-based violence takes many forms. For example, it may concern domestic violence, marital rape and human trafficking, but also forced child marriages, sexual violence in conflict situations, female circumcision and online violence.’
The violence is often a consequence, but at the same time a cause of the inequality that women worldwide face. ‘To combat violence against women and girls, we must address the root causes, such as social norms, gender stereotypes and discrimination. For this we also need the men and boys and the local, political and religious leaders of this world’, like Pascalle.
SDG5 Fund
In the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) also contains agreements on the protection of women and girls. The fifth goal (SDG 5) focuses on equal rights for men and women and the empowerment of women and girls. ‘This is an important priority for the Netherlands,’ says Pascalle. The Netherlands therefore has one of the largest funds in the world in this field: the SDG5 fund. This fund contains a total of almost €500 million for the period 2021-2025.
Through this fund, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for example, supports women’s rights organisations, including programs that focus specifically on the share of men and boys. The SDG5 fund consists of four thematic funds:
- Women’s Power (PoW)
- Women, Peace and Security (WPS)
- SRHR Partnerships (SRHR)
- Leading from the South (LFS)
Power of women
The Power of Women fund focuses primarily on women’s rights organizations that help women and girls, as well as men and boys, to stand up for women’s rights. The Y4WA partnership is one of the organizations supported through this fund. For example, Y4WA organizes leadership training for young women in Kenya, Egypt, developed areas and South Sudan.
In the trainings, young women learn to stand up for their own rights and stand for the rights of women in their community. “If you invest in girls’ leadership skills, you change the future not only of the girls, but also of the community,” said Thabani Sibanda, program manager of the Y4WA partnership.
Since the start of the project, almost two thousand young women have participated in the training. ‘In 2025 we expect to have helped more than fifteen thousand women. In addition, we also met other local women’s rights organizations, faith organizations, men and boys. All these groups have a crucial role in combating violence against women and achieving gender equality.’
Women, peace and security
The Women, Peace and Security fund focuses on protecting women and girls in conflict areas and strengthening their position in peace negotiations.
War Child, for example, is one of the organizations that receive support through this fund. In the published Territories, for example, War Child works together with local organizations and probably to better protect women and girls against gender-based violence. ‘It is a battle on several fronts,’ says network coordinator Fidaa Mousa. “Women and girls are not only often gathered within the present society, but in many cases also live under Israeli occupation.”
War Child’s projects focus on women and girls, but men and boys are also involved. ‘If men and boys don’t change the way they treat women, things will change for much, much longer. The male-dominated society (patriarchy) must be broken down along with men. So far a thousand men and boys have been active.’
The challenges are great in the reserved areas now that violence has flared up, says Fidaa. ‘Women and girls are more at risk, but it is also more difficult for the project partners to carry out the work. But we don’t stop at the 5,000 women and girls we’ve all reached. We keep going.’
SRHR partnerships
The SRHR Partnership Fund focuses on strengthening Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR). This fund supports, for example, the Break Free! Program of Plan International in Sudan. A program where young activists learn to talk about SRHR issues they face. ‘It’s great to see the confidence of young girls and boys grow and to see that they also start a conversation about SRHR in their own hypothesis,’ says coordinator Salwa Iddriss.
Many girls have to travel to school and it is not always safe at school either. ‘Girls often do not have access to hygiene products, clean water and supportive toilet facilities.’ The Staying Free! Program therefore trains boys and girls to draw attention to these problems. Salwa: ‘Awareness is the first step towards change.’
Leading from the south
The Leading from the South fund funds direct women’s rights organizations, regional networks and feminist movements from the global South through three regional women’s funds and a global regional women’s fund (FIMI).
The latter fund, for example, supports the Oltoilo Lee Maa initiative in Kenya. Oltoilo lee has had a discussion about female circumcision, which is a traditional practice in many traditional practices in Kenya.
The initiative focuses on girls and women, but also on men and boys, cultural leaders and the people who perform the circumcision. ‘Traditionally, these are the groups that maintain cultural norms and values. By starting the discussion, this group can together ensure that female circumcision is banned.’ The Oltoilo Lees maa team is seeing positive results so far. “We see the future open to stop using.”