Spotlight Initiative

10/20/2026

🌍 How can Africa build a safer digital future for women and girls?

At the African Union Innovation Festival (AU InnoFest ’26) in Addis Ababa, the African Union Commission launched the African Community of Practice on Technology-Facilitated Violence Against Women and Girls and the SafeTech Africa HackLab, empowering young innovators to develop technology-based solutions to digital abuse.

Supported by UN agencies, including through Spotlight Initiative Africa Regional Programme, these initiatives aim to strengthen collaboration, support survivors and advance safer, more inclusive digital spaces across Africa.

Read the story to learn how African leaders, human rights defenders and young innovators are working to combat technology-facilitated violence.

Full story: https://www.spotlightinitiative.org/latest/news/african-union-innofest-26-unveils-continental-coalition-and-youth-hacklab-combat

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia - The African Union Commission brought together experts, practitioners and human rights defenders at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa to strengthen Africa’s response to technology-facilitated violence against women and girls.

10/20/2026

🎮 What if gaming could help prevent violence and promote healthier relationships among boys?

Launched at the Sexual Violence Research Initiative Forum in Bangkok, Sync or Storm is a new Roblox game developed by Spotlight Initiative and Equimundo Centre for Masculinities and Social Justice. Through teamwork, shared decision-making and interactive challenges, the game encourages young players to question harmful gender norms and build healthier relationship dynamics.

With gaming playing a major role in young people’s lives, how can we use these digital spaces to promote gender equality and prevent violence?

Read the story to learn how Sync or Storm is bringing violence prevention into the gaming world.

Full story: https://www.spotlightinitiative.org/latest/news/how-gaming-can-help-promote-healthy-gender-dynamics-among-boys

BANGKOK, Thailand - A new game on Roblox is bringing violence prevention and healthy relationships into the digital world. Sync or Storm, a collaboration between Spotlight Initiative and Equimundo Centre for Masculinities and Social Justice, aims to make gender equality engaging and relevant to youn...

10/16/2026

When communities lead, lasting change becomes possible.

In Sierra Leone, community-owned safe spaces are being established in three districts to help women and girls access psychosocial support, information about their rights, referral services and livelihood opportunities.

Discover how community leadership and collective action are helping build safer futures for women and girls.

🔗 Read the full story: https://www.spotlightinitiative.org/latest/press/communities-lead-way-establishing-safe-spaces-women-and-girls-sierra-leone

MOYAMBA/KAILAHUN/FALABA DISTRICTS, Sierra Leone - Communities across Sierra Leone are working to end violence against women and girls and support survivors through the establishment of community-owned safe spaces.

10/13/2026

🎮 What if gaming could help prevent violence against women and girls?

At the Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI) Forum 2026 in Bangkok, Koye Adeboye of Spotlight Initiative and Caroline Hayes of Equimundo: Center for Masculinities and Social Justice presented Sync or Storm — an interactive Roblox game designed to bring awareness on violence prevention into the digital spaces where young people spend their time.

Through teamwork, communication and shared decision-making, the game encourages players to challenge harmful norms, listen to one another and work together.

As Koye and Caroline highlighted, prevention cannot happen only in classrooms, campaigns or school curricula. It must also happen online, on the platforms where young people are.

Developed in partnership with Bad Ape and Equimundo, Sync or Storm explores how gaming can help turn evidence into action and promote healthier relationships.

🎮 Play now: https://www.roblox.com/games/89537337492961/Sync-or-Storm

🔗 Learn more: https://www.spotlightinitiative.org/sync-or-storm

10/11/2026

If you could send a voice note to your 12-year-old self, what would you say? Tell us yours in the comments! 💌

Join Cecilia Suárez, Tiwa Savage and Audrey Nuna as they share messages to their younger selves.
Today, 11 October, is the International Day of the Girl Child. One in five girls worldwide is married before the age of 18. Every girl deserves the freedom to learn, grow, enjoy her childhood and shape her own future.

When girls have knowledge, choices and the freedom to define their futures, they can challenge inequality and help change the world.

10/10/2026

“You are fine just as you are.” — Cecilia Suárez

If you could send a voice note to your 12-year-old self, what would you say? 💌

In a voice note to her younger self, Cecilia Suárez encourages girls to embrace who they are, educate themselves about gender inequality and challenge the expectations imposed on them simply because they are women.

Today, 11 October, is the International Day of the Girl Child. One in five girls worldwide is married before the age of 18. Every girl deserves the freedom to learn, grow, enjoy her childhood and shape her own future.

When girls have knowledge, choices and the freedom to define their own futures, they can challenge inequality and help change the world.

10/10/2026

“Don't be in a hurry to grow up. Enjoy your childhood.” — Tiwa Savage

If you could send a voice note to your 12-year-old self, what would you say? 💌

In this message to her younger self, Tiwa Savage reminds girls that challenges will pass, mistakes can teach us valuable lessons and dreams can come true. Her advice? Keep going, believe in yourself and don't rush through childhood.

Today, 11 October, is the International Day of the Girl Child. One in five girls worldwide is married before the age of 18. Every girl deserves the freedom to learn, grow, enjoy her childhood and shape her own future.

Every girl deserves the time and space to be a child, pursue her dreams and discover her own strength.

10/10/2026

“There is nothing that you need to do to be enough.” — Audrey Nuna

What would you tell your 12-year-old self? 💌

In this voice note to her younger self, Audrey Nuna reflects on facing her fears, embracing who she is and remembering that she is enough just as she is.

Today, 11 October, is the International Day of the Girl Child. One in five girls worldwide is married before the age of 18. Every girl deserves the freedom to learn, grow, enjoy her childhood and shape her own future.

Let girls be girls. Let them dream, explore and discover who they are — without limits.

10/09/2026

“Research is great, but how do you ensure the findings continue to inform the work that you're doing, continue to transform the lives of the women and girls we’re trying to serve.” — Heran Ayele, Technical Advisor, UN Spotlight Initiative

At in Bangkok, Thailand, researchers, practitioners and advocates are coming together to exchange knowledge and explore new evidence on preventing violence against women and girls.

For Heran Ayele, Technical Advisor at UN Spotlight Initiative, one key takeaway is that research must go beyond findings. It must inform our work, shape our approaches and help transform the lives of women and girls.

Lasting impact requires collaboration. By connecting research, practice and partnerships across regions and sectors, we can turn evidence into meaningful, long-term change.

As Heran reminds us, “We're all in this together.”

10/08/2026

🎮 Sync or Storm is now LIVE on Roblox!

Watch Deji Araoye () take on the game LIVE on Twitch and see how he navigates the challenges of Sync or Storm.

Sync or Storm is a new interactive game from UN Spotlight Initiative developed in partnership with Bad Ape and Equimundo, designed to help young people explore the choices and behaviours that can help prevent violence against women and girls.

🎥 Watch the livestream: https://www.twitch.tv/videos/2894533871
🎮 Play now: https://www.roblox.com/games/89537337492961/Sync-or-Storm
🔗 Learn more: https://www.spotlightinitiative.org/sync-or-storm