UK and South Africa launch coalition to end violence against women and girls

The Government of United Kingdom and South Africa have launched an international coalition to prevent violence against women and girls and strengthen accountability through coordinated global action. The initiative was unveiled on 26 May 2026 at the Global Partnerships Conference in London, co-hosted by both nations, according to a press release from the British High Commission Pretoria. Led by UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, the coalition unites eight founding countries. It reflects a shared vision of development grounded in partnership, mutual respect, and country-led priorities. The thesis is clear: ending violence against women and girls is central to sustainable development.

The coalition builds on long-standing UK collaboration with South Africa’s Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Response Fund. That fund supports prevention programs, survivor services, and community-based initiatives. Violence against women and girls affects one in three women globally. In South Africa, where gender-based violence remains a national priority, the coalition strengthens efforts to prevent domestic abuse, tackle sexual violence, and respond to emerging risks such as online harm. The launch coincides with the broader conference agenda emphasizing social inclusion, strong institutions, and human rights.

Member countries include the UK, South Africa, Brazil, Morocco, Spain, Jamaica, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Australia. Together, they will pursue several shared objectives:

• scale up prevention efforts, including community-based and whole-of-society approaches
• strengthen protection systems for women and girls
• share expertise and best practice across borders
• improve accountability for perpetrators of violence

The coalition will also address violence in conflict and humanitarian settings, recognizing the disproportionate risks faced by women and girls in fragile and crisis-affected contexts.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper described the issue as urgent and worldwide in scope.

“Violence against women and girls is a global emergency not just a national emergency. We are determined to work across borders to ensure women’s safety is a worldwide priority,” she said.

She added that she was delighted to launch the coalition with countries that share the UK’s ambition. From the UK to Brazil to South Africa and beyond, she affirmed, women deserve to live free from fear of violence. There can be no peace, security, or prosperity, she emphasized, until that goal is achieved.

Looking ahead, the UK will convene a global summit in 2027 to track progress and encourage further commitments. Coalition members are expected to develop and strengthen national action plans. The initiative complements wider UK efforts, including a commitment to halve such crimes domestically within a decade. It also reinforces sustained international funding for prevention, protection, and response programs. Together, these steps mark a coordinated push to make women’s safety a worldwide priority.