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UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women – 25th November 2011

UN statistics suggest that 1 in every 3 women in the world has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime. The UN defines violence against women as any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or mental harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.

The UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women is an occasion for governments, international organisations and non-governmental organisations to raise public awareness of violence against women.  This date of November 25th was chosen as it originally marked the day that three sisters from the Dominican Republic were violently assassinated in 1960 for being activists against the country’s dictatorship. Choosing this day paid tribute to these brave women, as well as fostering a  global recognition of gender violence.

Each year observances around the day concentrate on a particular theme and this year’s is yet to be announced. Some organisations hold 16 days of campaigns from November 25th to Human Rights Day on December 10th.

The UN Secretary General makes a speech highlighting the work that has been carried out and what more needs to be done. In his speech last December, the UN Secretary General  Ban  Ki-Moon said that the Day was a call to action and the focus would be on promoting leadership by the Corporate sector in ending gender-based violence.  He also highlighted his UNiTE to End Violence Campaign, which was started in 2008. This Campaign includes a target of raising $100million annually for the UN  “Trust Fund in Support of Actions to Eliminate Violence against Women by 2015.” The Fund will provide grants to support  local, national and worldwide initiatives. The aims of UNiTE are to achieve the following five goals in all countries by 2015:-

  • Adopt and enforce national laws to address and punish all forms of violence against women and girls
  • Adopt and implement multi-sector national action plans
  • Strengthen data collection on the prevalence of violence against women and girls
  • Increase public awareness and social mobilization
  • Address sexual violence in conflict