Since the onset of COVID-19 lockdowns, violence against women has increased. A call to strike back against this “shadow pandemic” has been made by a host of civil society representatives, experts and progressive figures taking part in the online conference, organised by PES Women in the context of the United Nations 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.
PES Women President Zita Gurmai said:
“PES Women is leading the strike back against the shadow pandemic of gender-based violence. We need systemic change. We need to change the narrative. We need society to come together and collectively tackle this problem, which remains one of the most severe and prevalent violations of women’s human rights in Europe and the world. As PES Women we proudly convened this conference to put forward practical solutions, to share different stories, and to begin the mobilisation of progressives, civil society and activists against gender-based violence.”
The conferenced discussed the state of play for gender-based violence in Europe, reflecting on how to combat toxic narratives and the right-wing backlash against the Istanbul Convention, and put forward innovative policy solutions aimed at achieving fundamental change.
