Norway takes on leadership of Call to Action (2025-2026)

Strategic focus areas - Call to Action on Protection from Gender-Based Violence in Emergencies (CtA) under Norway’s leadership (2025-2026).

The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is very pleased to share that Norway has taken on the lead of CtA from January 1 2025. Protection against sexual and gender-based violence, and response to survivors is a key priority in Norway’s humanitarian strategy.

Norway will build on key outputs of the German leadership of the Call to Action (2023-2024), and on consultations with members of the three stakeholder groups.

The current global political context, the growing number of crises, rising humanitarian needs, and severe funding shortfalls put gender-based violence (GBV) prevention and response under pressure. Evidence shows that all forms of gender-based violence increase in times of conflict and humanitarian crises, with devastating impacts on survivors, their families, and communities. Sexual violence has been documented at large scale in current conflicts, in clear violation of International Humanitarian Law.

We recognize that women and girls are disproportionally affected by gender-based violence, but men, boys and people with diverse sexual orientations and gender identity are also at risk.

Norway has three strategic priorities for our two-year leadership of the Call to Action: ​

1. Ensure Call to Action is a principled voice for prevention and response to all forms of gender-based violence
   Norway will work to ensure the Call to Action is a principled and relevant platform shaping the global debate, actively raising the awareness of the forms of gender-based violence affecting civilians in armed conflicts and humanitarian crises. We will work to mobilise action. We will galvanize efforts to protect against gender-based violence and respond to the needs of survivors in all their diversity. Under the Norwegian leadership, CtA will be more outspoken about sexual violence in humanitarian crises and armed conflict, and humanitarian actors’ role providing response that puts the needs and priorities of the survivors at the center. We will promote prioritization of GBV prevention and response, including in reform efforts of the humanitarian system. Norway will organize and actively engage in high-level advocacy initiatives and events and mobilise high-level engagement from members of the network. Engagement with non-members of the CtA to promote GBV prevention and response will also be a priority.

2. Bring the Call to Action forward
   The current road map ends in 2025. Under Germany’s leadership, an external review of the 10 years of CtA was conducted. The review findings and recommendations were debated during the 2024 Annual Partners Meeting, and in the subsequent implementation workshop. Norway will build on Germany’s investments and lead the development of a new road map, with an emphasis on simplification. Norway will also continue the work initiated by Germany to improve the governance structure to ensure it is fit for purpose, increases cross-stakeholder engagement, amplifies the role of women-led organizations and simplifies and streamlines reporting frameworks.

3. Synergies with other GBV-related global initiatives on Gender-Based Violence
   As lead, Norway will work to create synergies between the Call to Action and other global platforms addressing gender-based violence, such as those focusing on conflict-related sexual violence. We will explore how CtA can best work with development and peace actors to promote more effective prevention efforts. We will seek to leverage the experiences of the women-led organizations that are members of the network, to learn from best practices on how to address GBV and promote local resilience.