High-profile figures, including Dame Emma Thompson and Annie Lennox, join The Circle’s global Make A Stand for 1 in 3 funding appeal ahead of International Women’s Day to support women’s rights organisations addressing gender-based violence.

The funds will back The Circle’s work and its 12 grassroots partners worldwide, delivering essential services and countering anti-rights narratives at their roots.

The campaign warns that funding for gender equality initiatives could decline, risking progress against gender-based violence.

The report frames a broader risk landscape with new threats, including a rise in conflict-related sexual violence and the emergence of AI-generated deepfake exploitation.

Frontline voices like Mukyala Zaituna in Uganda and former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard reinforce the urgency of funding shifts and action.

Julia Gillard emphasizes that global instability correlates with increased violence against women and stresses the need for collective action and funding.

Gillard also highlights that instability can heighten violence against women and girls, underscoring the urgency of concerted effort.

She further notes that global insecurity reinforces the case for collective action and sustained funding for women’s rights.

The piece features quotes from Lennox and Harriman, and notes ongoing advocacy and media partnerships that amplify exposure.

The narrative is framed as a funding and rights crisis, with overseas aid cuts threatening life-saving programs for women and girls.