The European Union and the United Nations today launched a joint initiative to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls, one of the most widespread and devastating human rights violations across the globe.

"It is a harsh but true reality — one in three women will face violence throughout their lifetime," UN Secretary-General António Guterres said at the launch event, held on the margins of the General Assembly’s high-level annual debate.

"Violence against women and girls devastates lives, and causes pain across generations," he added.

The EU-UN Spotlight Initiative is supported by a multi-stakeholder trust fund, with the EU as its main contributor in the order of half a billion Euro, which is open to other donors.

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Photo: UN