Resisting Violence, Reimagining Equality: The Power of Gender Data and Capacity Building 

A Call to Action from the SVRI Forum 2024 

Every 10 minutes, a woman is killed by an intimate partner or family member. This harrowing statistic exposes the pervasive and normalized nature of violence against women and girls. Yet this violence is neither inevitable nor insurmountable; it can and must be prevented. 

In October, I had the privilege of attending the SVRI (Sexual Violence Research Initiative) Forum 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa—a powerful global gathering of advocates and organizations dedicated to ending sexual violence against women and girls. As the largest forum of its kind, it provided an inspiring space to connect researchers, practitioners, and advocates, fostering collaboration and innovative thinking in our shared mission. 

However, like many gatherings of feminists and women’s rights activists, the forum was a sober reminder of the challenges we face. The weight of the evidence on the lack of progress toward gender equality was overwhelming and it became painfully clear that a gender-equal future is becoming more and more elusive. Earlier this year, the 2024 SDG Gender Index revealed that not a single country is on track to achieve gender equality by 2030 and 40% of countries stagnated or backslid between 2019 and 2022.  

The challenges holding back progress are multifaceted and deeply interconnected. The COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath reversed years of progress, particularly for girls and young women. Environmental crises have disrupted education, pushing many girls into hardship and limiting their future opportunities. Additionally, economic cutbacks and growing political divides have eroded progress on access to contraception and weakened protections for the sexual and reproductive health and rights of many women and young girls. These interconnected crises not only stall progress but also intensify violence against women and girls. 

The alarming rise in violence includes both traditional forms of abuse and newer threats like technology-facilitated gender-based violence, which 85 percent of women have experienced or witnessed according to GIWPS. These forms of violence are exacerbated by economic and emotional abuse, harmful traditional practices, and patriarchal social norms. Women’s rights organisations are doing crucial work to counteract this violence and stagnating progress. Yet they themselves are often operating under extreme threats and challenging conditions and are facing severe funding shortages and an increasingly shrinking civic space which restricts their impact.  

The Transformative Power of Gender Data 

Despite these seemingly daunting challenges, one truth resonates: data is one of the most powerful tools we have in the fight for a gender-equal and violence free future.  At the SVRI Forum, it was clear that data and evidence are crucial in diagnosing problems, measuring progress, and advocating for change. Gender data highlights the root causes of systemic inequalities that women and girls face, but it also plays a critical role in guiding the design of targeted, coordinated responses aimed at addressing these issues effectively. 

However, data alone is not enough. What matters is who has access to it, how it is interpreted, and the stories it can tell. For advocacy to drive change, advocates need more than access to data; they need the skills to turn data into actionable insights. This includes the ability to: 

• Identify and gather relevant gender data. 

• Analyse trends to understand how issues such as violence, education, health, and climate change intersect 

• Communicate findings in ways that resonate with diverse audiences, from policy makers to grassroots communities. 

Gender advocates must be equipped with the skills to analyse, interpret, and communicate data effectively. When presented clearly and in a compelling manner, Data-Driven Advocacy has the power to change policies, challenge harmful norms, and hold governments and institutions accountable. It can communicate precisely where progress has stalled, identify gaps in commitments, and highlight areas of success. 

The stories behind the numbers are also critical. As one presenter at the forum noted, “To be a girl is to resist and contend with systems of power every day.”  Sharing these stories, backed by data, reinforces the urgency of our work and the strength of our collective resistance. 

A Call to Action 

Given the state of global progress on gender equality and the rate at which women are being killed, this year’s 16 Days of Activism is more critical than ever. Armed with the data and evidence shared at the SVRI Forum, we must focus on prevention strategies, survivor-centred responses, and the strengthening and amplification of feminist movements. These have been tried and tested, and they work.  

For our coalition, the next step is clear; we need to ensure that every gender advocate, from grassroots organisers to global campaigners, has the tools and skills to use data effectively. Our advocacy must not only expose injustices but also inspire and demand action. Data is not just a tool for learning; it must lead the drive for change. 

We must also highlight our wins, using gender data to celebrate the successes that inspire hope. These stories of resistance and resilience, paired with evidence, paint a picture of what a #GenderEqualFuture can look like. 

During these 16 days, let us remember that while the challenges are immense, they are not insurmountable. Gender data gives us the clarity to navigate this turbulent moment with purpose and precision. Together, we can ensure that the fight for gender equality and ending violence against women is not just a vision but a reality.