End Violence against Women NOVEMBER 25th International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

End Violence against Women

The Issue

To raise awareness and trigger action to end the global scourge of violence against women and girls, the UN observes International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 25 November. The 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence which follow (ending on 10 December, Human Rights Day) are a chance to mobilize and raise awareness.

This year, the UN Secretary-General’s UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign invites you to “Orange YOUR Neighbourhood,” with the colour designated by the UNiTE campaign to symbolize a brighter future without violence. Organize events to orange your local streets, shops and schools!

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Sobering numbers show that 1 in 3 women have experienced physical or sexual violence, mostly by an intimate partner; about 120 million girls have been forced into intercourse or other sexual acts at some point in their lives; and 133 million women and girls have undergone female genital mutilation.

Ending violence against women is one of UN Women’s key priorities, with myriad programmes to address the pandemic globally. UN Women also coordinates the UN Secretary-General’s UNiTE campaign, supports widespread social mobilization through its Say NO – UNiTE social media platforms on Facebook and Twitter, and manages the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women.

The Beijing promise

At the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women, UN Member States adopted the path-breaking Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, taking up the global call to end all forms of violence against women and girls by highlighting violence against women as one of 12 critical areas of concern. They recognized that violence is one of the main mechanisms denying women equality, and that it imposes high social, health and economic costs.

Since Beijing, an historic two-thirds of countries have put laws on the books to stop domestic violence. Advocacy campaigns around the world have heightened awareness and galvanized actions to stop violence. Yet gaps in laws, implementation of legal protection and essential services remain. Momentum has begun, but needs to rapidly accelerate.

This year, as we near the 20th anniversary of Beijing, we take a look at how violence is not only an area of concern in its own right, but one which cuts across and intersects with each of the critical areas of concern.

See how:

Women & poverty

Education & training

Women & health

Violence against women

Women & armed conflict

Women & the economy

Power & decision-making

Institutional mechanisms

Human rights of women

Women & the media

Women & the environment

The girl child

Click on each of the tiles above for more

News

Speech by UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka at the official UN commemoration of the International Day to Eliminate Violence against Women (New York, 25 November 2014)

Press release: A global call to “Orange YOUR Neighbourhood” galvanizes communities to stop violence against women

Media advisory: UN commemoration of the International Day to End Violence against Women, 25 November 2014

Official Commemoration of the United Nations for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, 25 November, 10.30-noon EST. ECOSOC Chamber, UN Headquarters [see invitation]

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's message for International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, 25 November 2014

UN Women Executive Director Phumzil Mlambo-Ngcuka's message for International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, 25 November 2014
[in English; Spanish; French; Chinese; Arabic; Russian]

Letter from UN Women's Executive Director to the news media: Orange your news and newsrooms to raise awareness of violence against women

- See more at: http://www.unwomen.org/en/news/in-focus/end-violence-against-women#sthash.BSCo43pc.dpuf