The UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, marked every year on 25 November, aims to raise public awareness around the issue as well as increase both policymaking and resources dedicated to ending violence against women and girls worldwide.

Youth organisations have contributed to gender equality for many years, through their human rights campaigns and projects, as well as internal organisational steps to increase gender equality within youth organisations.  

Their involvement in educational campaigns, community dialogues, and social media advocacy helps challenge outdated norms and promotes values rooted in equality and respect. By empowering youth to take action, societies can build stronger, more inclusive strategies to prevent violence before it occurs, or tackle it when it occurs. Observing this day is therefore not only a commemoration but a call to invest in the next generation – equipping them with the knowledge, empathy, and leadership skills needed to create a world where women and girls can live free from fear and violence.

Have a look below at some of the recently EYF-funded projects that cover these topics:

InsightImpact: Addressing Gender Based Violence Globally - International Union of Socialist Youth (IUSY) – annual work plan

Through this annual work plan, IUSY is developing the skills of youth workers to becoming active educators on gender equality issues. These educators will help create safe and inclusive spaces where young people can reflect on their own biases, better understand how institutions work, and learn how to act when they witness harmful behaviour.

Using non-formal learning and human rights education, the organisation will explore both personal biases and the wider systems that contribute to gender-based violence. It will also encourage inclusive and accessible volunteering practices at local, national, and international levels, using intersectional approaches.

Generating Gender Equality - Federation of Erasmus Student Network Spain (ESN Spain) – pilot activity

ESN Spain raised awareness and built capacities of almost 400 young volunteers from Spanish local associations on gender equality and gender discriminatory attitudes. As output of the project, a toolkit was created offering guidance for youth organisations on how to design and implement their own protocols for prevention, detection, care, and redress in cases of gender-based violence and LGTBIQ+ phobia. In addition, the Toolkit compiles and proposes some training sessions on gender equality, building safe spaces and fighting against sexism and LGBTIQphobia within and outside organisations.

Read the “Gender Equality Toolkit for Youth Organisations” (in Spanish).

Teenage Club “Girls* can!” - Non-Governmental Organisation “Feminist Workshop” – pilot activity

The NGO “Feminist Workshop” provided services of a Youth Club for adolescents aged 15-18 affected by the war in Ukraine, internally displaced (IDPs) teenagers, LGBTQIA+ and girls from Lviv region, and providing them with a safe and inclusive space. The club fostered feminist values, equality, and human rights while promoting leadership and activism through workshops, events, and career counselling sessions. Participants gained skills to navigate challenges, engage civically, and develop their activist initiatives. The project culminated in the "Coven Academy of Activism for Girls*," which empowered teens to thrive in social and career development.

Say Yes To The Green Flags - Omnis Factum Associação – pilot activity

This project raised young people's awareness of the issue of dating violence, specifically its causes, consequences, impacts, the importance of building healthy, violence-free love and interpersonal relationships, how to ask for help and identify signs of dating violence. The activities, held in Montijo, Portugal, addressed topics of red flags - forms of violence present in relationships, including behaviours and signs that characterize the aggressor, and green flags, such as good and healthy behaviours that can be recognised in partners.

In addition, young people discussed the barriers that may hinder reporting, using practical scenarios and detailed analyses to illustrate how they can play an active role in combating violence and supporting victims.

The impact on the community was felt through the dissemination of knowledge and awareness gained by participants. They became multipliers of information about the different forms of violence in relationships, the harmful effects, and the means of prevention.

Moon Circle: The Empowerment of Young Female Reproductive Health - Georgian Youth for Europe (GYE) – pilot activity

The aim of this project was to equip local youth workers from rural areas of Kvemo Kartli region with the know-how about female reproductive health to become successful multipliers in their local communities. GYE created a safe space of open discussions about topics such as self-love, self-esteem, self-care, self-acceptance, body positivity, healthcare and body comfort.

The positive impact of this pilot activity was to break societal taboos in local communities surrounding female reproductive health, supporting girls and young women in their transition to adulthood. This training course helped them become more confident with increased knowledge and a better understanding of themselves.

Find out more about the Council of Europe action to advance gender equality:

Council of Europe standards in the fields of human rights and gender equality

Council of Europe Gender Equality Strategy 2024-2029

Council of Europe Convention against violence against women and domestic violence - Istanbul Convention

For more resources and tools created by other EYF-funded projects on this topic, check our website.