Addressing Gender-Based Violence: 16 Days of Activism

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign observed from November 25 – the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women – through December 10, International Human Rights Day. During this period, individuals and organizations around the world—including the World Bank Group (WBG)—unite to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.

Violence against women and girls holds back human potential and economic growth

Violence against women and girls limits access to education, employment, and participation in public life—holding back human potential and economic growth. Globally, one in three women experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, and in fragile or conflict-affected settings that figure doubles. Digital and technology-facilitated abuse, a key theme for the UN in 2025, is also rising, affecting 16–58% of women.

The human and economic costs are profound. Intimate partner violence alone can drain 1.2–3.7% of GDP, more than many countries spend on education. Lost wages, absenteeism, and reduced productivity weaken families, communities, and economies alike.

Safety for women and girls expands opportunities for all and helps economies grow

Legal protection is essential to safety and equality. However, the World Bank’s Women Business and the Law report highlights some major gaps: 39 economies lack laws against sexual harassment in employment, 86 lack adequate domestic violence legislation protecting women from all forms of violence, and 139 have insufficient legal protections against child marriage.  

Building safer, stronger societies and economies starts with ensuring that women and girls live free from violence. It starts in homes, workplaces, schools, and communities and requires the active participation of men and boys to help shape cultures and environments of equality and safety.  Only with safety can economies grow and opportunities expand for all.

Ending gender-based violence and elevating women’s human capital is central to the World Bank Group’s approach

Ending gender-based violence and elevating women’s human capital is a key pillar of the World Bank Group’s 2024-2030 Gender Strategy. The World Bank Group has expanded operations to prevent and address gender-based violence ten-fold over the last decade, and continues to lead globally in generating knowledge and data to guide better policy and investment decisions for women’s and girls’ safety.

Today, nearly 90 World Bank projects in more than 60+ countries are helping prevent violence, support survivors, and strengthen protection systems. The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Bank Group’s private sector arm, works with companies and financial institutions to create safer, more inclusive workplaces and markets.

Some examples include:

• Democratic Republic of Congo: The Gender-based Violence Prevention and Response Project has reached over 8 million people and provided holistic care to 79,000 survivors.
• Nigeria: The Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) has improved school safety and increased enrollment by 700,000 girls.
• Peru: Alegra Centers have provided free legal assistance to more than 1 million survivors.
• The World Bank’s Women, Business and the Law report has developed a standalone indicator on women’s safety helping to guide legal and policy reform efforts to address to improve safety for women and girls.

• IFC’s Empower Finance initiative works with financial institutions and regulators across Asia-Pacific to address financial abuse by redesigning financial products.
• IFC’s Respectful Workplaces Program has partnered with over 100 businesses to tackle gender-based violence, including bullying, sexual harassment, domestic violence, and exploitation in the workplace.

When women and girls are safe, societies and economies can grow and thrive. This 16 Days of Activism, join the call to build a world where every woman and girl can live free from violence, and reach her full potential.