International Women’s Day: Supporting Survivors and Strengthening Accountability
February 27, 2026
Part of our International Women’s Day series on women, peace and security.
Ending impunity for sexual and gender-based violence requires more than legal reform; it demands social transformation. This International Women’s Day calls attention to the need to confront stigma, harmful norms and silence that prevent survivors from accessing justice. Awareness campaigns, creative advocacy and community dialogue are essential components of institutional reform.
In Kosovo, the mission United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) has used art exhibitions, film screenings and public discussions to address domestic violence and early marriage. Alongside advocacy, the mission supports shelters and safe spaces, providing logistical assistance such as vehicles to ensure rapid response for women at risk. Strengthening these protection mechanisms reinforces accountability and survivor-centred approaches.
Access to justice also depends on economic independence and legal literacy. By supporting women’s centres and legal organizations that raise awareness around inheritance and property rights, peace operations help dismantle structural barriers that perpetuate vulnerability. International Women’s Day reinforces that justice must be comprehensive: legal accountability, social awareness and economic empowerment are mutually reinforcing pillars of women’s rights.
To read the full story, see here
To learn more, see here
February 27, 2026
International Women’s Day: Supporting Survivors and Strengthening Accountability
February 27, 2026
Part of our International Women’s Day series on women, peace and security.
Ending impunity for sexual and gender-based violence requires more than legal reform; it demands social transformation. This International Women’s Day calls attention to the need to confront stigma, harmful norms and silence that prevent survivors from accessing justice. Awareness campaigns, creative advocacy and community dialogue are essential components of institutional reform.
In Kosovo, the mission United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) has used art exhibitions, film screenings and public discussions to address domestic violence and early marriage. Alongside advocacy, the mission supports shelters and safe spaces, providing logistical assistance such as vehicles to ensure rapid response for women at risk. Strengthening these protection mechanisms reinforces accountability and survivor-centred approaches.
Access to justice also depends on economic independence and legal literacy. By supporting women’s centres and legal organizations that raise awareness around inheritance and property rights, peace operations help dismantle structural barriers that perpetuate vulnerability. International Women’s Day reinforces that justice must be comprehensive: legal accountability, social awareness and economic empowerment are mutually reinforcing pillars of women’s rights.
To read the full story, see here
To learn more, see here
