Ending violence against women and girls: 25 policies nominated for Future Policy Award 2014

Italy raises awareness on ending violence against women. ©REUTERS/A. Bianchi

Twenty-five policies on ending violence against women and girls have been nominated for the Future Policy Award 2014. This was announced by the World Future Council, the Inter-Parliamentary Union and UN Women today.  Violence against women and girls is one of the most pervasive and predominant forms of human rights abuses in the world.

One in three women worldwide will suffer sexual and/or physical violence in her lifetime. A human rights violation of pandemic proportions, the pervasive violence also impedes economic development and poverty reduction by limiting women’s choices and their ability to act. Tackling violence against women on all levels is, therefore, also a necessary prerequisite for gender equality and sustainable development.

The 25 nominated policies competing for the prestigious prize represent all continents. The nominations were put forward by international organizations, NGOs and noted experts in the field. They represent the wide range of policy dimensions: from comprehensive international treaties and national action plans to measures that ensure coordinated support of women who report an attack and press charges. The nominated laws and policies will be analyzed in a thorough evaluation process and assessed by a high-level jury.

The winners will be announced by the World Future Council in October 2014, in partnership with the Inter-Parliamentary Union and UN Women. For the first time, the award ceremony will be held at the Inter-Parliamentary Union's Assembly in Geneva, for which more than 1200 delegates from among 164 national Parliaments will gather.

The Future Policy Award is the first and only award that celebrates policies rather than people on an international level. Since 2009 it has been awarded in a different policy field each year to showcase existing and working policy solutions to an international audience.

 

For the full list of nominated policies as well as jury members, see www.worldfuturecouncil.org/fpa_2014.html (only available in English).

Notes to editors

Future Policy Award

The Future Policy Award is designed to alert policymakers and the public to the importance of best practice in lawmaking and highlight outstanding examples of regulatory vision. The Award draws attention to existing sustainable policies and demonstrates that when political will is asserted, positive change can happen. Celebrating visionary policies raises public awareness, encourages rapid learning and speeds up policy action towards just, sustainable and peaceful societies. For more information, see www.worldfuturecouncil.org/future_policy_award.html 

Previous Future Policy Award Topics:

2013: Disarmament
2012: Oceans and Coasts
2011: Forests
2010: Biodiversity
2009: Food Security

World Future Council

The World Future Council consists of 50 eminent global change-makers from governments, parliaments, civil society, academia, the arts and business. We work to pass on a healthy planet and just societies to our children and grandchildren with a focus on identifying and spreading effective, future-just policy solutions. The World Future Council was launched in 2007 by Jakob von Uexkull, Founder of the 'Alternative Nobel Prize'. It operates as an independent foundation under German law and finances its activities from donations. Find out more at: http://www.worldfuturecouncil.org

Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)
As the global organization of national parliaments, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) works to establish democracy, peace and cooperation among peoples by uniting members to drive positive change. Its focus on gender equality and in particular, women’s political participation, addresses a key component of democracy. Since 2008, IPU has also been working with parliaments to end violence against women through advocacy and awareness-raising activities and the introduction and implementation of legislation to tackle the issue. Find out more at: http://www.ipu.org

United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)

UN Women is the UN organization dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. A global champion for women and girls, UN Women was established to accelerate progress on meeting their needs worldwide. UN Women supports UN Member States as they set global standards for achieving gender equality, and works with governments and civil society to design laws, policies, programmes and services needed to implement these standards. It stands behind women’s equal participation in all aspects of life, focusing on five priority areas: increasing women’s leadership and participation; ending violence against women; engaging women in all aspects of peace and security processes; enhancing women’s economic empowerment; and making gender equality central to national development planning and budgeting. UN Women also coordinates and promotes the UN system’s work in advancing gender equality. Find out more at: http://www.unwomen.org/