Violence against women and girls

ActionAid demands safe cities for women. We campaign in 20 countries to make governments, businesses and individuals take action against street harassment and violence against women.

ActionAid works to end violence against women and girls and protect women's rights: our policy and research enables us to make recommendations for change to ensure gender equality and women's empowerment.

Local women's rights organisations are extremely effective in ending violence against women and girls (VAWG). Learn more about the women's rights groups challenging inequality around the world.

Violence against women and girls (VAWG), including domestic violence, sexual harassment, rape and FGM affects on average one in three women and girls worldwide. Learn what ActionAid is doing to combat VAWG.

Sexual and reproductive health and rights means all women and girls have the right to make informed choices around sexuality, pregnancy, family planning, safe abortion, and have access to accurate information around sexual health, including sexually transmitted infections (STIs), HIV and AIDS.

Emily, 42, is a local ActionAid worker who lives in West Pokot, Kenya. Committed to changing the lives of women and girls in the region, she works with a network of more than 100 women from surrounding villages to help stamp out female genital mutilation (FGM). Since ActionAid started working there, Emily says fewer girls are facing the cut and many more are staying in school. But, as she explains here, there is still much to do to end the practice for good.