9 December 2020
8AM EST
Globally, 1 in 3 women and girls worldwide have experienced some form of violence during their lifetime.
Recognizing that violence against women and girls (VAWG) is a learned behaviour, rooted in the wrongful assumption of gender inequality, preventing its spread necessitates not only the adoption of international policy, but also multidisciplinary efforts that bring awareness to the issue and give legitimate voice and resources to victims and survivors.
By taking a human-centric approach, design offers new opportunities for breaking the cycle of violence. By designing accessible, thoughtful products, systems and services, designers can work to deconstruct and address the social and economic implications of VAWG, while building tools and resources that empower and protect vulnerable individuals.
As part of the United Nations 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, World Design Organization (WDO), in collaboration with UN Women Asia and the Pacific hosted a virtual World Design Talk on 9 December 2020. With the goal of stimulating open dialogue around the value of design on the issue of VAWG, this event showcased the work being done around the world by designers, activists and innovators to end gender-based violence and injustice.