WFWP Geneva Emphasizes Legal, Emotional protection of Women and Children from Domestic Violence

WFWP Geneva organized a forum on domestic violence as a side event of the Human Rights Council 59 titled “Protection from Domestic Violence: Breaking Cycles, Building Peace” in partnership with the Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women, UNODC, Ambassadors of Indonesia and Samoa, and academic and NGO leaders.

Carolyn Handschin, UN Relations Director for Geneva, emphasized the key takeaways of the June 20, 2025 conference which were:

•⁠  ⁠Keeping mothers and children together in recovery

•⁠  ⁠Addressing the paradox of women’s leadership amid continued exploitation

•⁠  ⁠Confronting rising violence through national and legal action

•⁠  ⁠Recognizing widows as often-overlooked victims of abuse.

•⁠  ⁠Understanding societal triggers, like sports events or financial burden, that can intensify domestic violence.

•⁠  ⁠Challenging harmful media portrayals that normalize abuse.  

Handschin also spoke on the Beijing plus 30 review process titled "The contribution of women’s rights organizations and civil society to the Beijing+30 review process" at the Glion Human Rights Policy Dialogue 2025.   

The event took place on July 5, 2025, at the Permanent Mission of Thailand in Geneva. It was organized by the Universal Rights Group in collaboration with the Permanent Missions of Thailand, Mexico and UN Women. 35 government missions attended.

Three panels focused on mobilizing the UN Human Rights system to accelerate progress towards gender equality and the full enjoyment of women’s and girls’ rights. The participants unpacked key outcomes of the Beijing+30 review, including the CSW69 Political Declaration and the Beijing+30 Action Agenda. They expressed a shared commitment to speed up real change on the ground.  

WFWP Geneva also conducted the Young Professional Advocacy Training which successfully completed the Mock session of the HRC59 with 5 outcome Resolutions on June 14 and 15. 

The next training is on September 6-7, the weekend before the 60th Session of the HRC opens on September 8. Some of the previous graduates will give lectures.

WFWP Geneva's forum on domestic violence as a side event of the Human Rights Council 59 titled “Protection from Domestic Violence: Breaking Cycles, Building Peace” in partnership with the Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women, UNODC, Ambassadors of Indonesia and Samoa, and academic and NGO leaders.

Carolyn Handschin at the Beijing+30 Review Process.

Participants of the Young Professional Advocacy Training on June 14 and 15, 2025.