Washington, DC—Today, the U.S. government launched its updated 2022 U.S. Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence Globally. This critical initiative, which KIND advised upon through a consultation process, gives government agencies guidance on how to integrate a response to gender-based violence in all parts of their work and execute programs to address this prevalent violence. Now the critical work is to ensure that the strategy is properly implemented.
“KIND applauds the launch of the updated U.S. Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence Globally,” said KIND President Wendy Young. “As gender-based violence is a primary driver of migration, we are eager to see this tool applied in settings where vulnerable children are displaced, at risk of migration, or have been compelled to migrate on their own. In our work at KIND, we see the devastation of gender-based violence and its impact on children, youth, and their communities every day. KIND stands ready to help the U.S. government implement the new strategy and ensure its success to help prevent and address gender-based violence around the world.”
KIND has called on the White House to demonstrate renewed leadership to support women’s and children’s rights through visible, proactive diplomacy and strategic aid programs and to use its convening power and leverage to prioritize gender-based violence prevention with other relevant stakeholders within U.S. government agencies and with other governments, civil society, multilateral organizations, and donors. The updated U.S. Global Gender-based Violence Strategy is a step in the right direction.
As the U.S. government works to address the root causes of migration in the Americas and manage increasing migration flows from the region, the White House must ensure that gender-based violence concerns are considered and addressed in all aspects of their strategies. Across government agencies, gender-based violence prevention and response programs should reflect the scale and scope of the challenge and ensure a child-sensitive approach. There is an urgent need to recognize gender-based violence against children and youth and commit to child protection programs to help ensure young people’s safety.
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Media Contact: Megan McKenna, mmckenna@supportkind.org, 202-631-9990