This briefing paper is a call to resource gender equality agendas as a crucial component of, and a pathway to creating, inclusive societies. By this we mean societies anchored in human rights, where everyone is recognised and treated as equal and lives with dignity. It is a society where the economy is oriented towards achieving wellbeing, where the system of governance is democratic and accountable, and where the social fabric is strong and resilient. Together, these characteristics protect the realisation of people’s rights, as well as individual and collective prosperity.
Because gender-based violence (GBV) has a central role in the creation and perpetuation of unequal structures and relations, this paper focuses on how tackling GBV can help bring about inclusive societies. Worldwide, at least one in three women are subjected to physical and sexual violence at some point throughout their lifetime, and nearly two in three transgender and gender-diverse adults experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime (UN Women, 2025; McLellan et al., 2026). Addressing GBV is vital for creating more equal and peaceful societies, for maintaining healthy and resilient democracies, and for creating more prosperous economies.
Key messages
- Addressing gender-based violence (GBV) has become a strategic priority because it offers an opportunity to promote inclusive societies. It can lay the foundations for and nurture inclusive societies that are more equal, more prosperous, more democratic and more interconnected for all.
- GBV has high economic costs for victim-survivors, governments and society as a whole. Efforts to eradicate GBV create stronger economies for everyone by improving labour-market participation, reducing inequality and enhancing service provision.
- By limiting political participation, GBV jeopardises civil and political rights and undermines democratic principles. Additionally, through government inaction and even perpetration, GBV can violate the duty of a state to guarantee people’s rights and safety. Therefore, addressing GBV also contributes to building accountable governance and to the maintenance of healthy and resilient democracies.
- GBV severely weakens the social fabric because it reinforces inequitable social norms, reduces social connection and damages people’s sense of belonging. Working to end GBV provides a pathway to address social polarisation and fragmentation, strengthen community networks, and build pluralistic and caring societies.