Over the weekend, tens of thousands of Brazilian women participated in rallies calling for stronger action to tackle violence against women, which remains intolerably high. A few weeks earlier, several thousand South African women participated in “lie-downs” across the country to call attention to the same issue.

“Just as women many years ago protested ... for the changes that we are privileged to experience today,” said a South African participant in her 20s, “we also need to be the generation that steps up.” 

Coinciding with the global “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” campaign, these events underscore how much remains to be done to uphold the safety and dignity of women and girls the world over. As well as laws and enforcement, the process requires confronting deep-rooted traditions and cultural notions that constrain the full participation and vigorous contributions of half the world’s population.

When women lack equal rights and protection, peace and prosperity are diminished, as The Economist noted in an article titled “Why nations that fail women fail.” It cited research showing a high correlation between “violent instability in a country” and the existence of “pre-modern attitudes to women” – such as restrictive family and property laws, early marriage, polygamy, and sanctioned violence. And, in the aftermath of civil strife, it noted, “peace tends to last longer when women are at the table.”

When robust laws are enacted, reporting mechanisms improved, and social stigma recedes, more women and bystanders are willing and able to come forward – as the example of Kazakhstan shows. This Central Asian nation only last year introduced a law to address domestic abuse of women and children. From a few hundred crimes per year previously reported, it identified 19,000 potential cases in just the first five months of 2025. In that period, more than 2,000 children sought help and 62,000 adults placed calls, many concerning domestic violence.

In all, 191 countries have passed more than 1,500 pieces of legislation to address physical, psychological, and online violence against women. Nearly 100 countries – many of them in the poorest parts of the world – have implemented specialized training for police, as the first line of reporting and response. Hundreds of programs have engaged with students, young people, and adults to increase awareness of the issue. While building the confidence and agency of girls and women, 10% of such programs specifically promote awareness and relevant discussions among men and boys. 

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“We must raise our daughters differently. We must also raise our sons differently,” as author and activist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has observed.

Ultimately, renewed views of genuine manhood and womanhood that incorporate universal values such as equality and respect can help pave the way for lasting change.