Gender-based violence (GBV) remains one of the most pervasive and urgent challenges of our time - deeply rooted in inequality and sustained by silence, impunity, and underinvestment. Nearly one in three women worldwide - 736 million - have experienced physical or sexual violence at least once in their lives[i]. Alarmingly, these levels have remained largely unchanged for over a decade, underscoring a global failure to protect women and girls.

In Turkmenistan, the United Nations Population Fund’s (UNFPA) Status of Women in the Family[1] report shows that 12% of women aged 18–59 have experienced physical or sexual violence from a spouse or partner. 

While these figures are concerning, they also remind us that GBV is preventable. With sustained action, strengthened institutions, and active community engagement, we can protect women and girls and advance gender equality.

16 Days of Activism: UNiTE to End Digital Violence

Each year, from 25 November to 10 December, countries and communities worldwide observe the 16 Days of Activism to End Gender-Based Violence. This year, the campaign focuses on one of the fastest-growing forms of abuse: digital violence against women and girls.

UNDP joins the UNiTE to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls initiative by signing the joint statement and call to action on the occasion of the official commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, held on 25 November 2025 at UN Headquarters. Through this action, UNDP reaffirms its commitment to preventing and addressing digital violence, promoting safe and inclusive online spaces, and advancing gender equality globally.

Digital technologies and AI bring enormous opportunities for human development and advancing 

the SDGs, but they also create new risks for women and girls:

• 80% of women parliamentarians report experiencing psychological violence online, 44% receiving death, rape, or assault threats online[ii];
• 73% of women journalists have faced digital violence[iii];
• More than half of women online in some regions experience cyber-harassment;
• 38% of women have experienced digital violence, 85% have witnessed it[iv], and over 90% of deepfakes are sexually exploitative attacks against women and girls[v].

Online abuse pushes women out of digital spaces, limiting access to skills, markets, and higher-value jobs. Closing gender gaps in digital access and lifetime earnings could add $172 trillion to global wealth[vi]. Technology must prioritize human rights and gender equality, promoting inclusion and opportunity rather than widening gaps or enabling violence.

To address the GBV, in Turkmenistan we are focused on three streams of action:

• Institutional response
• Youth Engagement and Digital Empowerment
• Integration of GBV prevention into healthcare
• Empowering Women Through Climate Action.

Strengthening institutional response on Gender Based violence

Globally, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) addresses GBV as a development, governance, and human rights challenge, with particular focus on digital violence. Guided by our Gender Equality Strategy and our Strategic Plan for 2026–2029, we strengthen institutions, promote rights-based digital governance, and embed survivor-centered approaches across justice, security, and social protection systems. These efforts include legal reforms, support for civil society, and awareness campaigns that have reached millions worldwide.

In Turkmenistan, UNDP and UNFPA advance the CHANGE Programme on GBV, tackling harmful gender norms and strengthening institutional responses to GBV. This includes analyzing unpaid care work to inform policy, promoting skills and employment for women through apprenticeships and empowerment centers, and providing tailored digital and vocational training for GBV survivors. Together, these initiatives help women achieve economic independence while addressing root causes of inequality.

UNDP strengthens legal support and the prevention of gender-based violence by enhancing access to justice and information. Redesigned websites for Bar Associations and an electronic library for the Central Election Commission of Turkmenistan provide women and vulnerable groups with reliable legal guidance and resources, reinforcing institutional capacities to prevent GBV and promote safe, informed participation in civic life.

Youth Engagement and Digital Empowerment

This year’s campaign theme - “UNiTE to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls” -underscores the need to empower young people, particularly young women, in digital spaces. Digital literacy and resilience are not only investments in future careers, they are essential strategies for preventing gender-based digital violence.

At the forefront of this effort is the Future of Work Academy[vii], led by the UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub, which equips youth across Europe and Central Asia with skills for green and digital transition. Participants gain hands-on experience in emerging technologies, AI, and digital labor markets through programmes like the Future Skills Sprint. It was inspiring to see youth from Turkmenistan actively participating to explore how technology and sustainability are transforming work and production systems.

This year, with a focus on enhancing employment opportunities and advancing youth careers, UNDP Turkmenistan, in collaboration with the UNDP Knowledge Project, launched the second cohort of the Future Skills Academy. This dynamic inclusive initiative provides young people across Turkmenistan with access to high-quality, future-oriented online courses designed to build the skills most in demand in today’s job market. The programme is implemented under the Country Component of the regional project “Promoting Resilient Communities to Prevent Violent Extremism (PVE) in Central Asia”, funded by the Government of Japan.

Last year, Turkmenistan students participated in expert-led discussions on artificial intelligence, innovation, and emerging technologies, gaining practical insights into the rapidly evolving digital landscape. UNDP organized a youth-focused event under the 100-Day Global Consultation on Digital Inclusion, introducing students to the Digital Inclusion Playbook.

Digital safety and the online challenges facing young people, especially women and girls, were central to a recent youth session in Turkmenistan, jointly organized by UNDP and UNFPA as part of the 16 Days of Activism against GBV. Turkmen students discussed cyber-harassment, online abuse, and strategies to create safer digital spaces, highlighting both the opportunities and risks of online engagement.

From our perspective, supporting youth engagement in these areas is crucial. It not only strengthens their skills and confidence but also helps build the foundations for inclusive, resilient, and forward-looking societies in Turkmenistan and beyond.

Integrating GBV Prevention into Health Care

UNDP Turkmenistan also integrates GBV prevention into healthcare, including TB care, through a gender-sensitive and psychosocial support approach. Together with UNFPA and the Global Fund-supported TB and Infectious Diseases projects, trained psychologists and coordinators now provide psychosocial support to patients and families, ensuring safe space for open.

Why include GBV in TB work? Women with TB often face stigma, discrimination, and even violence, including online harassment, which can discourage treatment adherence. Training healthcare providers on GBV, digital safety, and gender awareness creates safe spaces, reduces self-stigma, and supports both the physical and emotional well-being of patients.

Empowering Women Through Climate Action: Building Resilience Against GBV

Turkmenistan is highly vulnerable to climate change, with decreasing precipitation, water shortages, and environmental degradation disproportionately affecting rural communities. Women in these areas, who make up a large share of the agricultural workforce, face heightened economic strain and social risks due to climate impacts, which can deepen gender inequalities, increase stress and their vulnerability to gender-based violence.

UNDP Turkmenistan works to empower women and girls through gender-specific trainings, advisory support, and opportunities for environmentally sustainable, women-led initiatives. By strengthening their capacities, introducing climate-resilient practices, and enabling their participation in local adaptation planning, women gain economic independence, greater stability, leadership skills, and a stronger voice in decision-making as well as more options to seek support when needed.

Empowered and economically resilient women are better able to withstand social pressures and reduce their vulnerability to GBV. Climate action and women’s empowerment are therefore deeply interconnected: investing in women’s resilience not only addresses environmental challenges but also promotes gender equality, social protection, and safer communities.

Moving Forward: Ending GBV Online and Offline

Every day, millions of women and girls face harassment, abuse, and control in digital spaces. Ending GBV requires coordinated, multi-sectoral action that combines justice, technology, and empowerment. By strengthening accountability, investing in digital literacy, and embedding human rights into technology, we can ensure digital transformation benefits all and protects women and girls.

Under this year’s theme, “UNiTE to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls,” UNDP stands with the UN system to eliminate all forms of gender-based violence. This campaign is not just a call to action - it is a call to accountability. Empowering youth, closing the digital divide, and creating safe, inclusive online spaces are essential steps toward a world free from gender-based violence. Together with partners, UNDP is committed to turning these goals into reality.

[1] Status of Women in the Family 2022

[i] https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240022256

[ii] https://www.ipu.org/resources/publications/issue-briefs/2016-10/sexism-harassment-and-violence-against-women-parliamentarians

[iii] https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/journaliststoo-73-women-journalists-participating-unesco/icfj-survey-have-experienced-online

[iv] https://onlineviolencewomen.eiu.com/

[v] https://sensity.ai/reports/

[vi] https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2020/03/03/world-could-achieve-gender-dividend-of-172-trillion-from-closing-lifetime-earnings-gaps

[vii] https://www.undp.org/eurasia/future-work-academy