The Vienna NGO Committee on Drugs (VNGOC) and the Alliance on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice join the global call to eliminate gender-based violence. This year, we marked the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women by participating in the UNODC high-level event, “Orange the World – Vienna United to Eliminate Gender-Based Violence”.

Ian Tennant, Chair of the Alliance, spoke on behalf of both organizations, emphasizing the critical role of collective action:

“We cannot address gender-based violence in isolation. It requires coordinated, multi-stakeholder approaches that involve not only governments and international bodies but also civil society, grassroots organizations, and affected communities. By working together, we can create comprehensive responses that provide protection, ensure access to justice, and empower survivors to rebuild their lives.”

The event, held in Vienna, brought together key figures, including Ms. Ghada Waly, UNODC Executive Director, and H.E. Susanne Raab, Austria’s Federal Minister for Women, Family, Integration, and Media.

This issue is interconnected with the work of VNGOC member organizations, many of which are actively addressing the linkages between gender-based violence and drug-related matters. In the CND mid-term review consultations last year and early this year, coordinated by Vienna and New York NGO Committees, NGOs raised the serious challenges women who use drugs face, including limited access to treatment, heightened stigma, and increased risk of gender-based violence. Although global awareness of gender-sensitive health services is growing, many women still struggle to access essential support, especially in prisons and shelters across the world.