SHARED MISSION, GLOBAL IMPACT
Since 2008, The Circle has brought together changemakers to fight for the safety and equality of marginalised women and girls across the world.
With bolder ambition, new partnerships and more agile ways of responding to global challenges, The Circle has proudly increased our impact twenty-fold to tackle gender-based violence and increase women’s economic empowerment, supporting over 88,000 women and girls directly through our partners.
88,000+
women and girls were supported through our grassroots partners in the past year
1.4mil+
people were supported directly on women’s rights over 15 years of impact
20mil+
people viewed our End Violence Against Women campaign on social media
Set against a background of global economic turmoil and a widespread rollback of rights for women, we stood firm with our 2022-25 strategic aims, almost doubling the number of partners we support and increasing our funding and support to these grassroots organisations. Thanks to your solidarity and support, it’s been a transformative year.
Here are some key highlights based on our core pillars:
FUND AND SUPPORT
- In 2023-24, we funded and supported 12 frontline organisations – seven are established partnerships and five began this year.
- We invested in safe spaces and refuges, counselling and education, awareness campaigns, domestic abuse support, skills development, training and advocacy support and psychosocial support.
ADVOCATE AND AMPLIFY
- This past year, we’ve launched our #MakeAStandFor1in3 global campaign to call on the government, corporations and philanthropists to increase funds to tackle gender-based violence and increase funding to grassroots women’s rights organisations. We were featured in Vogue, Sky News, Good Morning Britain and more.
- A particular win has been the explicit inclusion of living wages as a human right within the EU’s ground-breaking Corporate Due Diligence Directive, and direct feedback that our advocacy efforts had helped shape the social content of this important legislation.
- With support from our partner TikTok, our 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence social media campaign reached over 20 million views globally. We have joined global efforts to make ‘gender apartheid’ an international crime and used our voice to join calls for a ceasefire in Gaza.
CONNECT AND CONVENE
- Celebrating 15 years of impact, we’ve hosted a powerhouse of global feminist leaders including Australia’s former Prime Minister Julia Gillard, TIME Woman of the Year Zahra Joya and former President of Ireland Mary Robinson, alongside women on the frontline for discussions on the state of the world for women.
- Marking Women’s History Month, we brought together women from across the music industry to raise funds for women and girls facing unspeakable challenges.
- We connected women from across the globe through our Global Feminism Series flagship, featuring Annie Lennox in conversation with former president of Ireland, Mary Robinson
SUSTAINABLE AND PROGRESSIVE
- The Circle has continued to strive forward as a progressive organisation, ensuring we are inclusive and diverse, bringing together locally-led partners and influencing global change.
- Crucially, this past year, we have focused on making our funding more sustainable through our Empowerment Fund. It is comprised of dedicated donors that share our commitment to unrestricted multi-year donations as the key to creating lasting change.
- As the crises in Gaza and Sudan unfolded, we were able to respond with agility to the needs of women and girls.
To be in The Circle’s global network means a lot.
Sometimes we think that we are alone, feeling really lonely in this journey. But seeing global feminists that support us and are a part of the cause we believe in makes us feel valued, heard and supported and brings us hope for better and bigger changes.
Extend your solidarity with action
Since 2008, The Circle has brought together global feminists to use their resources, networks and creativity to cultivate long lasting change in the fight against gender-based violence. Together, we can help create a safer and fairer world for the most marginalised and vulnerable women and girls globally.
Discover how grassroots organisations leveraged our support to create lasting impact across the world, and join the network.
Linking with the global feminist network through The Circle has helped us connect with others nationally and internationally
amplifying our voices and enabling us to advocate more effectively for policy changes and reforms.
