In Focus: International Women’s Day 2025 and CSW69

For All Women and Girls: Freedom from Violence

The year 2025 marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the most progressive blueprint for gender equality and women’s rights.

Yet, three decades later, violence against women and girls (VAW/G) still remains the most widespread and persistent human rights violation, affecting more than 1 in 3 women globally. Every 10 minutes, a woman or girl is killed by an intimate partner or family member (See more). The world cannot wait another 30 years to prioritize the issue of ending VAW/G. Without urgent action, gender equality, global peace and justice will never be achieved. Ending VAW/G must be a global priority – now.

On 8 March 2025, the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women celebrates International Women’s Day under the theme: “For ALL Women and Girls: Freedom from violence.”

Born from the women’s movement, the UN Trust Fund was established as a direct result of the Beijing Platform for Action, following a landmark UN resolution (UNGA Resolution 50/166). It was a critical outcome of the Platform and an expression of global commitment by Member States to end violence against women by supporting the work of women’s rights organizations. For nearly 30 years, the UN Trust Fund has remained a unique grant-making mechanism within the UN system, embodying feminist values and standing in solidarity with the movements fighting to end VAW/G. Its grantee partners—civil society and women’s rights organizations—are at the forefront, providing life-saving services for survivors and driving long-term change in laws, policies, and societal norms that perpetuate inequality.

As the world reflects on 30 years since Beijing, the UN Trust Fund also prepares for its next decade of impact. Violence against women does not exist in isolation; it is exacerbated by conflict, economic crises, and climate change-related disasters. In alignment with the comprehensive vision of the Beijing Platform for Action, the UN Trust Fund continues to support those working to end VAWG in all contexts, ensuring that this fundamental pillar of gender equality remains a global priority.

As we look ahead, we remain steadfast. While recent years have seen the rising waves of resistance and systemic barriers, alliances and activists in feminist movements have continued marching forward for women and girls so they can exercise their full fundamental rights – including the right to live free from violence.

Take action with UN Women and UN Trust Fund:

Support women’s rights organizations: through core, flexible and long-term funding, the UN Trust Fund supports women’s rights organizations all around the world to end violence against women and girls.
Demand leaders enforce gender equality laws: gender equality won’t be attained as long as violence against women and girls persists.
Educate the next generation on equality: engaging youth is critical to building a safer, more just world for all.
Amplify the voices of those furthest left behind: the UN Trust Fund is committed to leaving no woman or girl behind by supporting civil society and women’s rights organizations working with ALL women and girls.
Speak out against gender stereotypes, bias, and discrimination: change starts with you – whether it is through raising awareness among friends and relatives, volunteering at a local women’s rights organization or donating to the UN Trust Fund.
Advocate for women in leadership: empowered women empower women to reclaim and exercise their most fundamental right, including the right to live free from violence.

UN TRUST FUND AT CSW69 (10-21 March 2025)

On 11 March:
- The UN Trust Fund will host an invitation-only Strategic Dialogue "Beyond Beijing+30: Sustainable Financing for Gender Equality", in collaboration with UN Women, WPHF, Mama Cash, Alliance for Feminist Movements and with women’s rights and civil Society organizations. The event will be followed by a reception, providing an opportunity for informal networking.
- In-person only brownbag event “SheRises Against Violence: Himaya Daeem Aataa Lebanon's Economic Independence Model” from 11:00am - 12:00pm at UN Women Headquarters. REGISTER HERE.
On 12 March:
- In-person only brownbag event "Breaking Double Barriers: African Perspectives on Violence against Women with Disabilities" at 1:30pm - 2:30pm at UN Women Headquarters. REGISTER HERE.
On 13 March:
- The UN Trust Fund will host its 2nd Donor Forum, bringing together the UN Fund’s principal Member State donors for an open dialogue with the UN Trust Fund and UN Women senior management. This internal event will provide an opportunity to share the latest achievements and results from UN Trust Fund grantee partners, as highlighted in the report to the 69th Commission on the Status of Women, discuss the UN Trust Fund’s strategic priorities for 2025, including the development of its Strategic Plan 2026–2030, and explore opportunities for collaboration with Member State partners in light of the Fund’s 30th anniversary.
- In-person only brownbag event “Iraq: Navigating Challenges to Women's Rights" from 1:30pm - 2:30pm at UN Women Headquarters. REGISTER HERE.
On 14 March:
- In-person only brownbag event "Feminist Resistance and Backlash in Latin America" from 1:00pm - 2:00pm at UN Women Headquarters. REGISTER HERE.
  Simultaneous Spanish-English interpretation will be available for this event by joining on Zoom (click here) - Please bring your laptop or smartphone with your preferred listening device to access interpretation service.
On 17 March:
- The Ford Foundation, FreeFrom, and the UN Trust Fund invite you to a special screening of SURVIVOR MADE, followed by a conversation on shifting the narrative around gender-based violence from pain to possibility. A joyful, deeply human documentary, SURVIVOR MADE follows six survivor-entrepreneurs in Los Angeles giving it their all to build financial security and safety for their families in community with each other. Join us for an evening that will show you what’s possible—and why it can’t wait. This is an in-person only event. REGISTER HERE.
On 19 March:
- FreeFrom, the UN Trust Fund, and Women & Land in Zimbabwe invite you to a conversation on advancing economic security for Gender-Based Violence survivors worldwide. Economic abuse is a global issue—and survivors are leading the movement to solve it. Based on FreeFrom’s two-year study with 22 organizations across 19 countries, this discussion will explore how economic abuse manifests globally, the solutions grassroots organizations are creating, and what’s next for the movement. This is an in-person only event. REGISTER HERE.

EVENTS

flyer of the movie survivor made with images of women survivors

flyer of the economic freedom event on the sideline of CSW69

UN TRUST FUND GRANTEE PARTNERS AT CSW69

On 10 March

From 4:30 to 6:00 PM, SIHA is organizing an event: "Exploring the Plight of Women and Girls in Armed Conflict: The Case of Sudan" at the Council of Churches United Nations Office, 8th Floor in New York. Register here.

On 11 March

From 4:45 to 6:00 PM, the Arab Women Organization is co-organizing an event with the Ministry of State for Women's Affairs - Libya and UN Women: "Care in times of war, conflict and crises: Elevating the care economy for resilience and recovery". By invitation only.

On 12 March

From 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, WONGOSOL is hosting a side event at the Bahai International Center, as part of the fifth session of the Liberia-Diaspora Dialogue Women and Youth Forum, focused on “Drawing Lessons from the Past, Reimagining the Future, and Recalibrating for Enhanced Engagement and Impact”.
From 2:30 to 4:00 PM, Women for Women International and the Alliance for Peacebuilding are co-organizing an event at the UN Church Center: "Shaping Peace in Sudan: The Critical Role of Sudanese Women and the Women, Peace and Security Framework". Register here.
From 4:30 to 6:00 PM, Women for Women International is organizing an event at the Rockefeller Foundation Global Headquarters: "From Asking to Action: ensuring the voices of women affected by conflict are heard". Register here.
At 6:30 PM, ACDH, FEIM and ETEG are co-organizing an event at the Blue Gallery: "Milei's Argentinafrom Feminist Viewpoint/ La Argentina de Milei segun las feministas". Register here.

On 13 March

From 8:00 to 10:00 AM, CAWTAR is organizing a hybrid event at the OIF Permanent Representation in NY: "Sommet du Futur: Quelles voies pour un avenir inclusif et durable?". Join online.
From 12:30 to 2:30 PM, Karama is holding a CSW Luncheon at UN HQ.
From 6:00 to 7:30 PM, SIHA is hosting a hybrid side event "Beyond Boundaries: Rethinking Strategies for Women’s Meaningful Political Participation and Legal Reform in the Horn of Africa" at UN Women HQ. Register here.

On 14 March

From 9:00 to 10:15 AM, CARE Deutschland e.V., Baghdad Women Association, Center Women’s Perspectives, Genfami, Himaya Daeem Aataa, Tinta Violeta, and Women Empowerment Organization, with the Permanent Missions to New York of Germany and Norway, are organizing an in-person only event at the Permanent Mission of Germany to the United Nations: "Dialogue on advancing the leadership of Women-Led Organisations (WLOs) in addressing gender-based violence (GBV) in emergencies". Register here before 12 March.
From 3:00 to 4:15 PM, the Government of Rwanda in collaboration with RWAMREC, Equimundo: Center for Masculinities &Social Justice, Sonke Gender Justice, WORLD Policy Analysis Center, and the University of Miami’s Human Rights Law Clinic, is hosting an event at UN HQ: "Transforming care: Progress, challenges and future directions in men's involvement in care work".

On 17 March

From 2:30 to 4:00 PM, the National Center Against Violence (NCAV) is organizing an event at the UN Church Center: "Celebration of 30 years of NCAV's work in combating GBV in Mongolia from combating negative stereotypes and attitudes to case monitoring and policy amendements".

On 18 March

From 8:30 to 10:00 AM, the Rural Women’s Development Society (RWDS) is organizing an event at the Salvation Army (lower level): "Confronting Gender-Based Violence: Focus on Femicide - Legal, Societal, and Technological Solutions for Achieving Gender Equality".

ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Celebrate International Women’s Day 2025 with us!

Join us online in calling for an end to all forms of violence against ALL women and girls. Learn more about the inspiring, powerful work of civil society and women’s rights organizations, from all across the world, committed to women and girls’ right to live free from violence and discrimination.

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Join the conversation on social media using #IWD2025, #CSW69 and #ForAllWomenAndGirls
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