For more information contact our Gender team
A practical guide aimed at ending violence against women in parts of Asia has been praised by experts.
Read news -
Guide to helping end violence against women and girls praised by experts
Main page for this area of work
The fight to end violence against women and girls will be bolstered by the publication of a new guide offering support to judges across Asia.
Read news -
Fight to prevent violence against women and girls steps up in Asia
A coordinated response to tackle the scourge of child marriage has never been more pressing in the Commonwealth, where a child is married every 17 minutes.
Read news -
More countries must commit to tackle child marriage
A project to raise awareness of the economic cost of violence against women and girls in the Commonwealth has been launched.
Read news -
Commonwealth focus on economic cost of violence against women and girls
Experts from around the globe have discussed ways to support more women into politics during two significant events hosted by the Commonwealth.
Read news -
Commonwealth produces checklist to support more women into politics
A group of 25 people will be attending a workshop on Friday 7 July to discuss the findings of the Commonwealth Secretariat’s studies on women’s political participation in the Commonwealth.
Read news -
Women’s political participation in the Commonwealth
At the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, the Commonwealth and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights jointly hosted a side event on ending child, early and forced marriage.
Read news -
Working together to end child marriage
Event
The Commonwealth Secretariat in partnership with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights will be hosting the side event 'Ending Child, Early and Forced Marriage' in the margins of the 35th session of the Human Rights Council.
Protecting green spaces in towns and cities, ring-fencing school budgets for physical education, and empowering women and girls through sport, are among a set of policy prescriptions set out in a report on global goals published today.
Read news -
Protect spaces for sport and promote physical activity, says report on global goals
The 2016 UNDP Human Development Report's lead author, Dr Selim Jahan, describes Commonwealth countries as “doing very well” in terms of human development.
Read news -
Commonwealth countries ‘doing very well’ in human development
The Caribbean and Africa will be the first to benefit from action to get more women into political leadership, the Commonwealth Secretariat has announced.
Read news -
Unlocking the door to women’s political leadership
The Commonwealth has joined ministers and civil society leaders from across the globe to make strong commitments on women’s rights and empowerment at the 61st Session of United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.
Read news -
Commonwealth in global talks on gender equality and women’s rights
Young women across the Commonwealth are set to benefit from a new initiative to help them acquire critical life skills and to progress in their careers.
Read news -
Mentorship programme to empower Commonwealth young women
Event
The Commonwealth Women’s Mentorship Scheme will match aspirational young women with experienced professionals in their fields in a new initiative to empower young women.
Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland and Secretary-General Designate Dr Joanna Newman, of the Association of Commonwealth Universities met on International Women’s Day todiscuss how their two organisations could work even more closely together.
Read news -
Working together to reap benefits for the Commonwealth
Campaigners, Commonwealth high commissioners, parliamentarians and members of civil society today stood behind a new initiative to support its member governments to eliminate domestic violence.
Read news -
Ending domestic violence campaign builds momentum
International Women’s Day 2017 is being celebrated as we complete twelve months of celebrating ‘An Inclusive Commonwealth’, and our focus for the year ahead shifts to ‘A Peace-building Commonwealth’.
Read news -
Secretary-General’s message for International Women’s Day 2017
The Commonwealth launches new initiative to help member states bring down rates of domestic violence.
Read news -
Peace in the home initiative to empower domestic violence survivors
As the Commonwealth launches the Peace in the Home: Ending domestic violence together initiative, we look back on some of the best articles from young Commonwealth Correspondents on gender equality and tackling violence and discrimination.
Read news -
Peace in the home: ‘Why do we turn a blind eye to domestic violence?’
A leading international academic on the prevention of violence says the Commonwealth is uniquely placed to take forward cross-sector policy interventions that could protect millions of lives.
Read news -
Commonwealth is uniquely placed to counter violence says leading expert
Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland has made her inaugural speech at the High Level Segment of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland.
Read news -
Peace in the home means peace in our communities, says Secretary-General
8 March 2017 to 8 March 2017
Event
Secretary-General Patricia Scotland will launch a pioneering Peace in the home: Ending domestic violence together initiative as part of the larger strategy focused on ‘A Peace-building Commonwealth’ – the theme for Commonwealth Day and the rest of the year.
A delegation of more than 30 speakers and parliamentary officials met with Secretary-General Patricia Scotland last week to hear her plans and share advice on how to best work together to achieve equality.
Read news -
Human rights high on agenda for speakers of parliament
Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mangala Samaraweera has expressed hope that the Commonwealth will continue to fight for the values that have strengthened Sri Lanka in recent times, such as human rights, rule of law and democracy.
Read news -
Sri Lanka’s foreign affairs minister meets Commonwealth Secretary-General
The judiciary plays a central role in enhancing and protecting women’s rights, as well as the development and enforcement of formal legal responses to discriminatory and criminal activities, including violence against women (VAW).
The Judicial Bench Book on Violence Against Women in Commonwealth East Africa situates VAW in four member countries, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.
Read publication -
Judicial Bench Book on Violence Against Women in Commonwealth East Africa
The Judicial Bench Book on Violence Against Women in Commonwealth East Africa situates VAW in four member countries, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.