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Experiencing domestic and sexual violence is isolating and traumatising, but there is help available. See the resources and information below to get support.
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Visionary women leaders from across the Commonwealth came together in London yesterday to commit to safeguarding women and girls from domestic and sexual violence.
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‘NO MORE’: Commonwealth women leaders commit to ending domestic and sexual violence
Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, joined Pacific Island Forum leaders in the Cook Islands last week, pledging her continued support to the region.
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Commonwealth Secretary-General commends Pacific Islands Forum and pledges continued support
A high-level event on the intersection of climate change and mental health has considered how policymakers can best address the needs of vulnerable people, especially vulnerable women.
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Women diplomats call for greater focus on mental health and climate action
15 November 2023 to 15 November 2023
Event
The Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, will host a high-level event in London on 15 November 2023 to address the urgent issue of safeguarding women and children from domestic violence.
Domestic abuse is a pattern of behaviour used to establish and maintain power and control over another person through fear and intimidation, often including the threat or use of violence.
Women’s affairs ministers from Commonwealth countries committed to a roadmap yesterday, designed to scale up efforts to achieve gender equality and empower women and girls, especially in climate action.
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Commonwealth women’s affairs ministers endorse roadmap to fast-track gender equality
Opinion piece by Commonwealth Secretary-General, The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC
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Opinion: A gender-equal society will move us all forward
The Commonwealth Women’s Affairs Ministers Meeting opened yesterday in The Bahamas with a call for stronger action on gender equality priorities in the face of intensifying global environmental and economic challenges.
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‘This is our time’: Commonwealth women’s affairs ministers meeting opens with calls for stronger action on gender equality
Commonwealth women’s affairs ministers will meet in The Bahamas, from 21 to 23 August 2023 to consider strategies for achieving gender equality across all 56 member countries.
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Commonwealth women’s affairs ministers to focus on strategies for gender equality
21 August 2023 to 23 August 2023
Conference
The 13th Commonwealth Women’s Affairs Ministers Meeting (13WAMM) will be held at the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort in Nassau, the Bahamas, from 21 to 23 August 2023 under the theme ‘Equality Toward a Common Future’.
Speaking at an event in Trinidad and Tobago aimed at tackling male violence, especially young men, The Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland, KC, has called for societies to “act together” to reverse the tide of violence amongst men.
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The Commonwealth Secretary-General urges early and targeted action to reduce crime
Ocean scientists and advocates have underscored the vital role of women in ocean-related sectors and the blue economy, calling for intensified efforts to achieve gender parity in these areas across the Commonwealth.
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Commonwealth experts call for improved opportunities for women in ocean sector
Spouses and partners of Commonwealth Heads of Government have pledged to champion advocacy and action on eliminating cervical cancer in their countries.
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Spouses and partners of Commonwealth Heads of Government unite for cervical cancer elimination
This month, the Commonwealth joined the international community to mark the inaugural International Day of Women Judges on 10 March. It is a day designated by the United Nations to promote women’s full and equal participation at all levels of the judiciary.
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Blog: Women’s representation in the judiciary has come a long way but remains far from being equal
The Prime Minister of Samoa, the Hon Fiame Naomi Mata’afa and the Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, have called for stronger efforts to address the gender imbalance in leadership.
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Samoan Prime Minister and Commonwealth Secretary-General urge stronger efforts to get more women into leadership
On International Women’s Day, the Commonwealth Secretariat and the International Trade Centre (ITC) jointly hosted a discussion on ‘Bridging the digital gap for women-led businesses in developing economies’.
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Commonwealth and ITC work to bridge the digital gap for female entrepreneurs in the developing world
By Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC
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Opinion: A life without violence for every woman starts with making homes places of safety
Joint statement by partners of the Global Strategy for Equality in Law for Women and Girls by 2030: A Multi-stakeholder Strategy for Accelerated Action
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Joint Statement on International Women’s Day: Equality in Law for Women and Girls in a Digital Age
Please join us in promoting women’s contributions to the ocean and blue economy sector.
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Join our campaign to celebrate women in ocean action
Addressing climate change can only be successful with a holistic approach that includes the most vulnerable at heart.
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Blog: Integrating gender equality in climate action through the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub
A new report by the Commonwealth Secretariat calls on policymakers from Pacific countries to consider adopting laws requiring bystanders to report online violence against women and girls.
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Report calls for bystander intervention laws to address online violence against women in Pacific
The Commonwealth Secretary-General made an urgent appeal to everyone to take personal responsibility in putting an end to violence against women and girls.
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Commonwealth Secretary-General urges everyone to take responsibility for ending violence against women
The Commonwealth Secretariat has launched a new best practice guide that will assist policymakers and practitioners across the Commonwealth to integrate gender equality into national climate action.
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New guide launched to integrate gender and climate action
2 December 2022 to 2 December 2022
Event
The Commonwealth Secretariat will host a gathering of high commissions, businesses, academia, women’s rights campaigners and civil society representatives on 2 December to look at and discuss actions and inspirations towards ending violence against women and girls in its 56 member countries.