Making Global Change

March 19, 2015

Though the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) primarily works in the United States, we are concerned with the epidemic of violence against women everywhere.

At the United Nations’ 4th World Conference on Women in 1995, Hillary Clinton famously declared that “women’s rights are human rights”. The conference marked a turning point in achieving global gender equality with the creation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for action. In the twenty years since the conference, activists, community organizations, and governments worldwide have worked tirelessly to end violence against women.

NNEDV is proud to be a part of this global movement. Earlier this month, NNEDV presented at two events during the 59th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. We are a founding member of the Global Network of Women’s Shelters (GNWS) and have sister projects, like Safety Net Australia, in a number of countries.

In 2012, NNEDV hosted the 2nd World Conference of Women’s Shelters (WCWS) in Washington, DC, bringing together service providers working to end gender-based violence. Nearly 1,500 delegates from 84 countries attended 120 conference sessions. NNEDV also hosted two Pre-Conference Institutes on Technology Safety and Economic Justice. Conference speakers ranged from Former President Bill Clinton to actress Reese Witherspoon to HRH Crown Princess Mary of Denmark. Other highlights included a performance of “I Will Survive” by NNEDV Spokesperson, Gloria Gaynor.

Conference attendees nurtured relationships across borders and shared information and promising practices. Since then, regional networks have been formed in Asia and Africa, and there has been greater international collaboration in building a global movement to transform governmental, societal, and community responses to violence against women.

This November, the 3rd World Conference of Women’s Shelters will be held in The Hague, Netherlands. NNEDV looks forward to attending the 3rd WCWS and collaborating with the dedicated advocates who are making change around the world.