Building movements, driving momentum: Catalyzing global action

In recent years we have made significant strides in addressing sexual violence against women and girls in Latin America and the Caribbean, including through our publication in 2021 of a report highlighting gaps in legislation and implementation, as well as through our strategic litigation efforts leading to the alignment of national laws with the standards set by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. In 2024, we built upon the success of our previous work by partnering with ParlAmericas, an Inter-American network of 35 national legislatures that promotes dialogue and exchange of good parliamentary practice to incorporate gender equality at the core of their work. Together, we presented our Guide for Legislating on Sexual Violence with a Consent-Based Approach to align national reforms with international standards.

During 2024, we also participated in the 66th Executive Committee of the Regional Conference on Women in Latin America and the Caribbean, held at the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) headquarters in Santiago, Chile. We worked alongside our civil society allies and regional leaders to drive a stronger gender agenda, promote the inclusion of diverse voices, and ensure an intersectional perspective that reflects the realities of women in Latin America and the Caribbean. Along with our partner, the Regional Network for the Follow-up to the Belém do Pará Convention, we delivered training for CSOs, regional networks, and activists on building effective alliances to improve measures against gender-based violence in Latin America and the Caribbean.

In 2024, in response to the interest generated by the publication of an Equality Now and Dignity Alliance report into the prevalence of sexual violence across South Asia and the barriers to justice faced by survivors, we convened a group of like-minded organizations from across the region to form the South Asian Movement for Accessing Justice (SAMAJ). This new network aims to unite voices against sexual violence in South Asia, driving legal reforms and supporting essential services for survivors.

Amending violence laws in Kyrgyzstan: In August, Kyrgyzstan adopted the Amendment to Legislative Acts for Protection from Domestic, Sexual, and Gender-Based Violence. 

The Hurra Coalition is a diverse, intersectional group of active women’s rights organizations in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region that works on reforming family laws in compliance with international human rights standards. As Secretariat to the Coalition, Equality Now has supported and reinforced the capacity of the network since its inception by advising on campaign strategy, providing legal and media advocacy, engaging with policy and decision-makers, and facilitating participation by young activists from marginalized communities. In 2024, the Hurra Coalition grew to 13 members in nine countries, and became formalized through bylaws and a five-year strategic plan.

Removing barriers to justice in Georgia: In February 2024, Georgia amended its Criminal Procedure Code to remove discriminatory provisions that had previously prevented persons with disabilities from testifying as witnesses in their own cases. This change is a significant step toward ensuring equal access to justice, particularly for the estimated 198,000 women and girls with disabilities in Georgia, who face heightened risks of sexual violence and other forms of abuse.