WRO Joins Global Leaders at the 2025 Global Summit on Economic Abuse

Combatting economic abuse is fundamental to WRO’s mission to protect, empower, and uplift vulnerable community members. Every day, WRO works to strengthen the safety and resilience of survivors and individuals at risk—particularly women, persons with disabilities, minorities, and other marginalised groups. While economic abuse disproportionately affects these populations, everyone is at risk, making awareness and action critically important.

Through our programmes in protection, prevention, and response, WRO provides essential support including awareness-raising, financial literacy, case management, legal assistance, mental health services, and dignified economic empowerment and livelihood activities. These efforts reduce susceptibility to exploitation, abuse, and violence and help individuals rebuild independence and long-term stability.

On 18 November 2025, WRO proudly participated in the Global Summit on Economic Abuse, an international event bringing together global experts, advocates, financial institutions, policymakers, practitioners, and survivors to address one of the most under-recognised yet pervasive forms of domestic and family violence: economic abuse.

Why This Summit Matters

Economic abuse remains a hidden and often misunderstood form of harm. It limits autonomy, erodes financial stability, and traps victim-survivors in cycles of dependence.

This year’s Global Summit demonstrated that solutions are emerging around the world—from survivor-led advocacy and frontline innovation to bold legal and regulatory reforms. Addressing economic abuse requires sustained, coordinated action, and this summit made clear that momentum for change is building.

WRO was honoured to take part in this global movement, learn from international leaders, and contribute to conversations shaping stronger, more inclusive responses to economic harm.

Key Highlights from the Summit

The summit delivered a full day of powerful sessions, research presentations, and lived-experience insights. Major themes included:

Survivor Voices Leading the Way

Sessions such as “Unheard Riches: Reclaiming Power from Economic Abuse” placed survivors’ experiences at the centre. Their stories illuminated the long-term financial impacts of abuse and the resilience required to rebuild independence.

Global Innovations and Cross-Sector Solutions

Speakers highlighted pioneering efforts across sectors, including:

  • Financial sector reforms, survivor-centric service models, and the IFC’s Empower Finance initiative across Asia-Pacific

  • Justice system advancements, including specialist courts and integrated support services

  • Insurance sector innovation, exploring how policies can be redesigned to better protect survivors

Government and Policy Leadership

Representatives from Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United Nations shared national and international approaches to embedding economic safety within domestic violence policy and legislation.

Community-Driven Approaches Across Africa

A dedicated session spotlighted culturally grounded solutions emerging across African nations, including pioneering consumer protection research in Benin.

Workplace and Systems Awareness

Experts explored how workplaces and customer-facing services can play a frontline role in identifying signs of economic abuse and supporting early intervention.

Explore the Sessions That Defined the 2025 Summit

From survivor leadership to financial systems reform, the summit delivered a powerful programme. Below is the full list of session titles:

  • Unheard Riches: Reclaiming Power from Economic Abuse

  • Leading the Charge: Global Innovations to End Economic Abuse

  • Power, Policy, and Protection: Global Responses to Economic Abuse

  • Justice for All: Strengthening the Justice Response to Economic Abuse

  • Economic Abuse in Focus: A Global Study

  • Strengthening Banking Responses to Financial Abuse: Perspectives and Innovations from High-Income Countries

  • Empower Finance: Reimagining Banking to Prevent Economic Abuse in Asia-Pacific

  • Insuring Safety: The Emerging Role of the Insurance Industry in Addressing Economic Abuse

  • Ending Economic Abuse: Insights from NGOs and Advocates Working Across Africa

  • More Unheard Riches: Survivor Advocates Reclaiming Power from Economic Abuse

  • Seeing the Signs: How Workplaces Can Spot and Stop Economic Abuse

  • Credit Where It’s Due: Restoring Financial Dignity After Economic Abuse

  • In Focus: What Is Economic Abuse?

  • In Focus: Beyond Survival — Financial Recovery for Women with Disabilities After Economic Abuse

Looking Ahead

As WRO returns from the Global Summit on Economic Abuse, we remain deeply committed to advancing economic justice and strengthening protections for those most vulnerable to exploitation and coercion. The learnings from this global dialogue reinforce the importance of WRO’s ongoing work—combining awareness, financial literacy, legal support, mental health services, case management, and sustainable livelihood opportunities to empower individuals and reduce long-term risk.

Economic abuse is a widespread threat that disproportionately affects women, persons with disabilities, and minorities—yet no one is immune. WRO will continue to lead efforts that equip communities with the tools, knowledge, and support needed to prevent abuse, protect survivors, and build pathways toward safety, dignity, and economic independence.