Advancing gender equality through communication
How to communicate for change: A workbook to help end violence against women is a practical tool developed by the Communications Lab (Comms Lab) of the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) to support effective communication on violence against women and girls.
The Comms Lab is EIGE’s collaborative platform for advancing gender equality through an experimental and evidence-based approach to communication. It brings together diverse voices in workshops, webinars and joint activities to share experiences, test new approaches and build collective knowledge in a rapidly evolving communication landscape, marked by both progress and backlash, including anti-gender disinformation. Between 2023 and 2025, one of its core priorities is how to communicate effectively about violence against women.
Drawing on evidence, expert input, and peer learning, the Comms Lab developed the workbook to help communicators craft impactful, values-led messages and respond to gendered disinformation.
Downloadable from EIGE’s website, it is designed for policymakers, campaigners, civil society organisations and anyone working on equality and violence against women. It aims to help users find clarity in their messages, frame arguments with confidence, push back against harmful narratives and communicate with purpose and power.
From identifying and targeting audiences to shaping value statements, structuring compelling stories and planning communication activities, the workbook breaks down the process into clear, practical steps. It also stresses the importance of responsibility, respect and care when communicating about gender-based violence, including the thoughtful use of images and the role of supportive communities.
A dedicated section addresses misinformation, disinformation and gendered disinformation, presenting techniques used by journalists to counter anti-gender narratives and correct misleading or untrue claims without amplifying them.
