A/HRC/38/3 E/CN.6/2018/9 indicated their increased knowledge of and confidence in addressing violence, stigma, discrimination and human rights violations based on sexual orientation a nd gender identity. The online and hotline services, which provide assistance when violence occurs, were operational and connected to the committee of judges on gender -based violence cases of the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security. Many people indicated their increased capacity to seek assistance when violence occurs. One concrete result concerned a case in the southern province of Yala, where four lesbian women, together with a grantee community leader, went to the police to report an incident of sexual abuse. The Association supported the complainants throughout the court proceedings. 55. In Nicaragua, the women’s organization MADRE is working with a longstanding partner, the local indigenous women’s organization Wangki Tangni, to reduce violence against indigenous women and girls in 63 Miskito communities. The women targeted by the project live in remote communities on Nicaragua ’s North Atlantic coast, so it can be almost impossible for them to access shelters or local resources. The aim of the project is to advocate for the effective implementation of Nicaragua’s Law 779, on addressing violence against women and girls, in these communities and to carry out capacity-building with local stakeholders to prevent violence and make the customary justice system work to protect women and girls. Women have reported that they are seeing a decrease in violence within their homes and communities as a result of their increased knowledge of their rights and the laws that protect those rights. The project has trained 30 women in broadcasting and reporting and distributed 400 solar-powered radios to make sure everyone can tune in to radio programmes, the only ones broadcast in Miskito, that reach 115 communities, six days a week. They report that men who are participating in this project and who are listening to the Wangki Tangni radio broadcasts are more supportive of women ’s rights and have become less violent. Women have shared that they feel confident to stand up for their rights as a result of the workshops and radio broadcasts. Each of the 42 communities within the seven territories has made commitments to develop and implement cultural events and create groups within their communities. V. The way ahead 56. In many ways, 2017 was a year of increased awareness regarding gender-based and sexual violence threats worldwide and the need to take further action globally to move the issue out of the shadows, into the spotlight. It is a result of the long -standing efforts to unveil the prevalence of violence against women and girls that takes many forms and affects people in every walk of life and in every part of the globe. It has become clear that the abuses revealed in the public arena had been known about or suspected for years and, in some cases, decades. 57. For many around the world, the #MeToo phenomenon was a watershed moment. Certainly for the millions of victims who spoke out, as well as those who either chose not to or felt they could not, it was an important moment of solidarity across countries, continents and cultures. It has re-energized those who insist that violence against women and girls is not acceptable and can be stopped. That assertion is the starting point for the work of the trust fund. The achievements of grantees take the next step by showing how this can be achieved. 58. Focusing on results and sustainability, grantees around the world are finding and implementing solutions and contributing to our overall understanding of effective strategies to counter all forms of violence against women and girls. They are often 17-22602 15/16