Spotlight Initiative

Their stories are not simply untold — they are often uncounted.

Older women are frequently excluded from violence data, policies and programmes, leaving critical gaps in protection and support. As the world's population ages, addressing violence against older women is more urgent than ever.

Read "Rights Have No Expiry Date: The Case for Action on Violence Against Older Women."

🔗 https://bit.ly/4ejJsQ9

Rights have no expiry date: The case for action on violence against older women | Spotlight Initiative Older women are among the most overlooked groups in global efforts to eliminate violence against women and girls (VAWG). They are often left in an institutional vacuum — absent from data, absent from policy, and unable to access essential services. This Spotlight Initiative brief makes the case fo...

Older women are the fastest-growing demographic globally, yet their experiences of violence are too often overlooked.

Violence against older women is driven by the intersection of ageism and sexism, compounded by barriers to reporting, economic insecurity and a lack of data that leaves many experiences uncounted.

On World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, we explore the hidden crisis of violence against older women and the actions needed to prevent it—from strengthening laws and services to improving data collection and expanding access to support.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4vT62VF

The hidden crisis of violence against older women – and what can be done to prevent it | Spotlight Initiative Older women are the fastest-growing demographic globally. Yet, when it comes to preventing violence, they are often overlooked. World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on 15 June aims to shine a light on how violence affects older people. Like all forms of violence, elder abuse is not gender-neutral. We exp...

"This place has had a huge impact on childbirth in our area."

In eastern Liberia, a maternal child health unit supported by Spotlight Initiative is helping save lives by ensuring safer pregnancies and deliveries.

Though maternal mortality has substantially reduced in recent years, in 2020, the country still had the sixth highest maternal mortality rate in sub-Saharan Africa, according to data compiled by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Koro Mallah, a Maternal Child Health Supervisor, explains the life-saving importance of the unit.

In Liberia, maternal child health units are saving lives | Spotlight Initiative ZOE-GEH DISTRICT, Liberia - In eastern Liberia, Spotlight Initiative has supported government efforts to reduce maternal mortality rates by building a Maternal Child Health unit at Bahn Health Centre. Though maternal mortality has substantially reduced in recent years, in 2020, the country still had...

"True strength is respect and partnership"

In Uganda, Vincent Onyango is part of a growing movement of men advancing positive masculinity and helping build safer, more equal communities.

His transformation began through participation in the SASA Together! approach, implemented under the UN Spotlight Initiative, with funding from the European Union and the Netherlands Embassy.

🔗 Read more: https://bit.ly/4dItkpE

"True strength is respect and partnership" - Advancing positive masculinity in Uganda | Spotlight Initiative TORORO DISTRICT, Uganda - Vincent Onyango represents a growing movement of men redefining leadership within their homes and communities. At 28 years old, he is a youth counsellor and trained community volunteer on gender-based violence (GBV), sanitation and hygiene. His transformation began through....

"Are you feeling forced, tricked or trapped?"

Sister Sarah Puls, a member of ACRATH shared how faith leaders and community-based organizations are helping identify and support survivors of human trafficking and modern slavery across the Oceanic Pacific.

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"Are you feeling forced, tricked or trapped?" The faith leaders who identify and support trafficking survivors | Spotlight Initiative MELBOURNE, Australia - Sister Sarah Puls is a member of ACRATH, an Australian faith-based organization dedicated to addressing human trafficking and modern slavery. Her role involves working directly with survivors, migrant workers, schools, healthcare institutions and government bodies to address t...