Dartnall, E., Arango, D., & Mingeirou, K. (2026). From evidence to action: Six investment priorities for governments to end violence against women and girls. Sexual Violence Research Initiative, World Bank Group & UN Women.

Abstract

Progress on eliminating violence against women and girls is too slow. According to WHO’s latest global estimates, prevalence has fallen by only about 0.2 per cent a year over the past two decades. What has changed is the evidence: we now know much more about what can prevent violence, what can strengthen responses, and where major uncertainties remain. In this paper, SVRI, the World Bank Group and UN Women argue that while we have enough evidence to act, the key question is how governments can use the limited resources strategically and carefully, based on that evidence. For this purpose, the paper translates the growing global evidence base into six concrete investment priorities for governments, distinguishing between established, emerging, and exploratory evidence.