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Unravelling the Contribution of Women's Movement Activism to Transforming Gender-based Violence Policy in South Africa: Combining Stories and Numbers

The August 2024 research brief by the University of Cape Town analyzes the evolution of South African feminist activism from the anti-apartheid struggle to contemporary movements like #TotalShutdown. It highlights how political leadership and historical legacies impact policy, noting that while robust legal frameworks exist, patriarchal resistance and structural inequalities continue to hinder safety for marginalized women and LGBTQIA+ individuals. The authors conclude that intersectional, multifaceted activism—combining grassroots organizing with social media and legal action—is essential to transforming "paper rights" into lived safety.

Indian Women's Movements and Struggles Against Violence

This report, a collaboration between Kalyani Menon Sen and Uma Chakravarti for the WEAVE project, serves as a virtual archive of the Indian women's movement and its fight against systemic violence. It introduces the concept of "perpetual custody," illustrating how the state, family, and religious institutions interlock to control women’s sexuality and autonomy. By mapping landmark cases from the 1970s to the present, the authors highlight how Dalit, queer, and marginalized feminists have expanded the movement's strategies to challenge both social norms and legal frameworks.

A SHARING OF STORIES: Indigenous Women’s Movements in Australia

The Indigenist Feminist (InFem) project explores the vital role of First Nations women’s movements in Australia in shaping policies to end violence. Through case studies of Galiwin’ku Women’s Space and Strong Women Talking, the report illustrates how these organizations provide essential protective factors, such as collective care and cultural healing, to combat disproportionately high rates of violence. It concludes that while mainstream movements often erase Indigenous experiences, First Nations-led activism remains the primary force for justice and sustainable community safety.

Weaving Stories From the Margins a Study on Women’s Movements Against Violence

The WEAVE Collective’s "Weaving stories from the margins" report provides a transnational analysis of how feminist movements drive systemic change in the face of varying levels of state repression and patriarchal control. By documenting the lived experiences of Indigenous women in Australia, Dalit and Adivasi women in India, political prisoners in Nicaragua, and Black women in South Africa, the study identifies a "triple burden" where movements must simultaneously provide services, advocate for policy, and fight for their own survival. The report concludes that long-term reductions in violence against women and girls (VAWG) are only possible when these movements are recognized as the foundational force behind social and legal progress.

The Power of Women’s Movements in Ending Violence Against Women and Girls

The WEAVE Policy Brief emphasizes that women’s movements are the essential foundation for sustainable reductions in violence against women and girls (VAWG). These movements drive systemic change through legal reform, state accountability, and cultural shifts in social norms, often filling critical gaps in service provision where governments fail. To prevent the loss of progress, the brief calls on policymakers and donors to provide flexible, long-term funding and protect the civic spaces necessary for feminist activism to thrive.

Interventions to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls Globally: A Global Systematic Review of Reviews to Update the Respect Women Framework

This systematic review updates the global evidence base for the RESPECT women framework by analyzing 178 reviews published since 2013. The findings reveal significant new evidence for the effectiveness of empowerment training, services for survivors, and gender-transformative approaches, though poverty reduction and relationship skills strategies require further research. Ultimately, the study highlights a critical need to adapt successful low-and-middle-income country (LMIC) interventions for high-income settings and vice versa to address global prevention gaps.

Violence against women and girls in conflict: progress and priorities

Global conflict increasingly endangers women and girls, with 612 million living in close proximity to active war zones in 2023—a 41% increase since 2015 (Murphy et al., 2024). While the UN verified thousands of sexual violence incidents, a meta-analysis suggests the true scale of non-partner sexual violence in conflict (21% lifetime prevalence) is triple the global average (Murphy et al., 2024). This crisis is exacerbated by rising brutality in areas like Sudan and severe underfunding for life-saving survivor services (Murphy et al., 2024).

What Works to Prevent Violence Against Adolescent Girls in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review

This systematic review of interventions in low- and middle-income countries indicates that school-based programs and economic strengthening initiatives are most effective when they utilize gender-transformative approaches. Successful programs typically combine multiple components, such as life skills training and community engagement, while involving adolescent boys to shift harmful social norms. The findings highlight a critical need for more research in the Middle East, North Africa, and Latin America to address regional evidence gaps.

Localizing Efforts to Prevent Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in Humanitarian Aid: Evolving Experiences of Power and Agency in Lebanon

The Empowered Aid initiative partnered with the Lebanese NGO URDA to address sexual exploitation and abuse by centering the lived expertise of Syrian refugee women and girls. By testing community-led recommendations, such as door-to-door distributions and female-led aid teams, the project significantly increased safety and satisfaction levels for female aid recipients. This feminist approach successfully shifted power to local organizations and affected communities, establishing a new model for accountability and knowledge production in humanitarian aid.

Empowered Aid Action Analysis Workshops Facilitation Guide for Women & Girl Researchers

This guide facilitates participatory data analysis for refugee women and girls, ensuring their lived expertise drives the "meaning-making" phase of research. By utilizing visual aids, role-playing, and movement-based activities, it removes literacy barriers and allows participants to validate findings and prioritize safety recommendations. This feminist approach empowers women and girls to act as co-producers of knowledge, directly shaping the policies and interventions designed to protect them from sexual exploitation and abuse.