GBV undermines not only the safety, dignity, overall health status, and human rights of the millions of individuals who experience it, but also the public health, economic and security of nations.

Gender-based violence cuts across ethnicity, race, class, religion, education level, and international borders. As estimated one in three women worldwide has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in their lifetime. Although statistics on the prevalence of gender-based violence is sometimes hard to come by, as it is, the consequences for individuals, families, communities, and countries are devastating.

COFAS under Hon. Elizabeth Akinyi Mökkönen and partners promote the rights of all individuals and reduce gender-based violence while mitigating its harmful effects on individuals and communities. Unless women, girls, men, and boys fully enjoy their human rights and are free from violence, progress toward development will fall short.