Sexual violence is a global epidemic that disproportionately impacts marginalized groups. Not only are survivors from these groups unduly targeted, but they also face additional barriers when navigating the criminal justice system. Equality Now recognizes that to achieve justice and support for all survivors, an intersectional lens must be integrated into laws, policies, and procedures from the outset. This approach ensures that systems are designed to cater to the diverse needs and identities of survivors.
Empowering youth to end sexual violence
Youth play a key role in the fight against sexual violence. At Equality Now, we are dedicated to strengthening youth leadership through our intersectional strategy. In the Latin America and Caribbean region, we have been working on equipping young activists with knowledge of international human rights standards and advocacy tools to empower them to drive structural changes that uphold the rights of girls and adolescents to live free from sexual violence. Our approach also integrates youth into national women’s movements and supports their active participation in regional advocacy spaces, amplifying their impact and voices.
In partnership with FUSA, we trained 200 young activists from various countries through the Building a Future Free from Sexual Violence course, enhancing their advocacy skills to lead efforts in preventing, addressing, and eradicating sexual violence in their communities. Building on this, we supported the implementation of projects led by five participants, enabling them to apply their knowledge and make a direct impact in their local contexts.
Sexual violence and disability
Women and girls with disabilities are uniquely vulnerable to sexual violence and should be included when considering how sexual violence laws are drafted. Equality Now conducted research in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan to analyze the justice system’s response to survivors of sexual violence with disability. The study included:
- A review of current laws, national and international instruments, and legal barriers.
- 11 in-depth interviews with survivors.
- 21 in-depth interviews with local experts and legal professionals.
- Analysis of 18 court decisions.
In Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Equality Now collaborated with the Commissioner on Children’s Rights, Asel Chinbaeva, and partner organizations such as Bir Duino Kyrgyzstan and Union of Persons with Disabilities Ravenstvo. Together, we worked with state agencies, justice professionals, and health professionals to discuss the implementation of the research’s key recommendations.
For more insights into our work with survivors with disabilities, visit:
Survivor Perspectives on Disability
16 Days of Activism: International Day of Persons with Disabilities
Caste-based sexual violence
Caste-based discrimination compounds the risk of sexual violence for marginalized communities in South Asia. Following the release of our report on sexual violence and the justice system, Equality Now has been sharing knowledge and learning from the National Council of Women Leaders and other stakeholders to improve access to justice for survivors from caste-oppressed communities. This work involves advocating for legal reforms and supporting grassroots movements to challenge entrenched discrimination and amplify the voices of survivors.
Learn more about our efforts in South Asia: Ending Sexual Violence in South Asia.
Addressing sexual violence at the intersection of marginalization
Through our work, we have realized that addressing sexual violence at the intersection of multiple forms of marginalization requires collective action and nuanced understanding. While progress has been made, gaps remain in knowledge, research, and implementation. Survivors and advocates emphasize the need for inclusive, survivor-centered approaches—an ideology captured in the principle of “nothing about us without us.”
Key learnings include:
- A need to navigate and “unpick” legal frameworks to avoid unintended harm, such as a system that fails to account for coercion, power dynamics, and one’s ability to consent.
- Acknowledging that existing legal practices often do not reflect the lived realities of marginalized survivors.
For more insights, read: Establishing Good Sexual Violence Laws for Survivors with Disabilities.
What next?
Equality Now remains committed to advancing intersectional approaches to sexual violence law, including through advocating for good laws and their effective implementation. We are working toward even more collaboration with experts to deepen our understanding of survivors’ needs in disability rights, gender justice, and law.
We will continue working with governments and justice actors to develop new training manuals and resources to guide practitioners and policymakers on the gender-sensitive approach when dealing with all survivors of sexual violence.
And through all of our interventions, we will continue to refine our recommendations to the legal community which we will continue to develop in collaboration with top-level experts and stakeholders, ensuring they are both actionable and inclusive.
Together, we can create a world where every survivor is entitled to justice and support, and where systems are designed to meet the needs of all survivors.