Empowering voices, breaking chains: the global pursuit to end violence against women

Violence against women is a pervasive and deeply rooted issue that knows no geographical, cultural, or socioeconomic boundaries. Professor Skerdi Zanaj , Full Professor of Economics and our Gender Equality Officer, explains what is being done to address this issue. There is now a growing global awareness of the urgent need to tackle violence against women. International efforts, including UN Sustainable Development Goals, strive to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls through initiatives, campaigns, and educational programmes promoting gender equality and respect. One significant milestone in this endeavour is the Istanbul Convention, which came into force in the EU on 1 October. Under the #IstanbulConvention , the European Union officially acknowledges violence against women as a violation of human rights and renews its commitment to preventing such violence, protecting and supporting victims, and prosecuting perpetrators. This landmark treaty sets out a comprehensive set of measures to prevent various forms of violence, including domestic violence, forced marriage, female genital mutilation, and honour-based violence.