Aimed to support policy makers and programme implementers working on preventing and responding to violence against women, this guideline document offers an update on:
(1) interventions during humanitarian emergencies,
(2) the evidence base in development settings;
(3) the disproportionate risks faced by certain groups, including adolescent girls, women with disabilities, indigenous women, and transwomen.
RESPECT refers to 7 strategies to prevent violence against women:
R- relationship skills strengthened
E- empowerment of women
S – services ensured
P – poverty reduced
E – environment made safe
C – child and adolescent abuse prevented
T – transformed attitudes, beliefs, and norms
The guideline document calls for commitment to change, support for evidence-based approaches, collaboration, and immediate action.
Recommended citation:
World Health Organization. (2025). RESPECT women: preventing violence against women, second edition. Geneva: World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240117020