2022 U.S. Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence Globally

The United States believes that preventing and responding to gender-based violence around the world is a matter of human rights, justice, equity, and equality. In 2012, the U.S. Congress first requested a “multi-year strategy to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls,” which led to the development of the first U.S. Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence Globally. This Strategy, and the subsequent update in 2016, elevated the human rights of women and girls globally as a U.S. national security, diplomatic, and foreign assistance priority. Ten years later, our commitment to this issue remains steadfast and our knowledge of best practices and what works to prevent gender-based violence has grown. Nonetheless, gender-based violence remains all too common around the world, including in the United States.

With this third iteration of the U.S. Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence Globally, we seek to: prioritize inclusivity and address the specific identity factors that increase the risks of gender-based violence for various populations and that undermine access to services and safety; support expanded approaches for addressing gender-based violence priorities across a range of thematic areas; and strengthen the commitment and work of the U.S. government to bring to scale what works, enhance our partnerships, and improve our capacity. This Strategy aligns with and furthers the U.S. National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality , released in October 2021, and directly responds to Executive Order 14020 , which called for, inter alia, a comprehensive, interagency review and update of this Strategy.