Building feminist just futures: strategies to end gender-based violence

Overview

In 2024–2025, as part of the Beijing+30 review processes, feminist groups undertook national reviews and consultations, and contributed to regional and global advocacy efforts to hold states accountable to their commitments to gender equality. In India, the Beijing+30 review process co-led by the Civil Society Steering Committee for India, in partnership with feminist groups, supported by UN Women India, held several consultations. We (the authors) contributed to convenings and advocacy on ending gender-based violence experienced by women and gender-diverse persons across the country. We drew upon our individual and collective experiences and our research to highlight the impacts of the continuum of violence faced by marginalised women experiencing intersecting forms of gender-based violence. The road to recovery and reparations for survivors is long and arduous. Systemic impunities, determined by sociocultural barriers such as entrenched patriarchal norms and caste discrimination, undermine human rights principles and create structural barriers for accessing justice within a rights framework. There are significant gender gaps in the implementation of commitments on ending gender-based violence. Diverse women’s movement groups have supported survivors in their journey of healing. They have continued advocating for legal and policy reforms, building an evidence base, designing prevention strategies, and spotlighting restorative justice principles. At this historic moment, the paper calls for deepening accountability and budgetary investments to ensure change is possible.