Morocco, Allies Launch Anti-Violence Coalition

A coalition of eight countries led by the Morocco and the United Kingdom has launched a new international initiative aimed at combating violence against women and girls globally, with participating nations pledging to work toward reducing gender-based violence by half within the next decade.

The coalition was officially launched during a high-level hybrid ministerial meeting involving Morocco, the United Kingdom, Spain, Brazil, Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Jamaica, and South Africa.

Officials described the initiative as an ambitious effort to strengthen international cooperation, improve policy coordination, and mobilize political commitment toward addressing one of the world’s most persistent human rights and public health challenges.

Representing Morocco at the meeting was Nasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates.

He joined senior international officials, including Yvette Cooper, in formally launching the coalition.

The initiative comes amid growing international concern over the rising prevalence of violence against women and girls worldwide.

According to estimates from the United Nations, nearly one in three women globally approximately 736 million women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence at least once during their lifetime.

International studies further indicate that gender-based violence continues to generate severe social and economic consequences, including long-term physical and mental health impacts, increased poverty risks, and reduced workforce participation among women.

Officials involved in the coalition stated that the initiative will focus on helping participating countries strengthen national responses to violence through improved institutional frameworks, coordinated action, and international knowledge-sharing.

The coalition also intends to address emerging threats linked to technology-facilitated abuse, including cyber harassment, online exploitation, and digital stalking.

Supporters of the initiative described the objective of cutting violence against women and girls by half within ten years as both ambitious and urgently necessary given increasing global concerns surrounding gender inequality and insecurity.

Speaking during the launch, Nasser Bourita reaffirmed Morocco’s commitment to international efforts aimed at protecting women and girls from violence and discrimination.

According to him, multilateral initiatives such as the newly established coalition are critical to ensuring that women and girls can live in dignity, safety, and equality.

Bourita further emphasized Morocco’s willingness to actively contribute to global prevention strategies and protection mechanisms designed to combat gender-based violence.

During the meeting, the Moroccan Foreign Minister also highlighted several domestic reforms undertaken by Morocco to strengthen legal protections for women and girls.

Among the reforms referenced was Morocco’s Law No. 103.13 on violence against women, which entered into force in September 2018.

The legislation criminalizes multiple forms of abuse, strengthens protections for victims, and introduces preventative measures against gender-based violence.

Bourita additionally highlighted Morocco’s National Policy to Combat Violence Against Women and Girls adopted in 2021.

The policy seeks to eliminate violence against women by 2030 through prevention initiatives, legal reforms, victim support services, and improved institutional coordination.

At the conclusion of the ministerial meeting, participating countries signed a joint declaration outlining the coalition’s guiding principles and long-term objectives.

The declaration commits member states to prioritizing violence prevention, addressing structural inequalities and root causes of abuse, strengthening accountability for perpetrators, and expanding support systems for survivors.

The launch of the coalition comes amid increasing international focus on violence against women and girls as governments and international institutions push for stronger commitments toward gender equality and protection.

Diplomatic sources confirmed that an International Summit on Violence Against Women and Girls is expected to take place in 2027.

The summit will reportedly provide coalition members and international stakeholders an opportunity to assess progress, deepen commitments, and develop expanded prevention and protection strategies.

Observers believe the initiative could emerge as a major benchmark for cross-regional diplomacy aimed at combating gender-based violence.

Analysts further note that governments worldwide are increasingly confronting evolving threats linked to digital technologies, armed conflict, economic inequality, and social instability, all of which continue to heighten risks faced by women and girls.

Advocates for women’s rights say the coalition reflects growing global recognition that violence against women is not merely a domestic concern but a transnational challenge requiring sustained international cooperation, political will, and long-term financial investment.

They argue that meaningful progress will depend on governments translating political commitments into practical actions capable of producing measurable reductions in violence and stronger protection systems for victims and survivors worldwide.