KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica is among eight countries from across the globe joining a new UK-led international coalition to end violence against women and girls, reinforcing global efforts to ensure women and girls can live free from violence, abuse and fear.

The coalition, launched by United Kingdom Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper, at the recent Global Partnerships Conference in London, brings together founding member countries, including the United Kingdom, Jamaica, South Africa, Brazil, Morocco, Spain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Australia, to strengthen practical action to prevent violence against women and girls.

According to a release on Tuesday, the coalition aims to tackle domestic abuse, sexual violence and online abuse, while strengthening global efforts to prevent sexual violence in conflict and humanitarian crises.