November 25 marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to denounce violence against women around the world and call for policies in all countries to eradicate it.
Violence against women: an obstacle to equality and peace
Violence against women and girls continues to be silenced due to factors such as impunity of the aggressors, stigmatization and shame of the victims.
This violence can be physical, sexual and psychological and includes:
- Intimate partner violence (physical and psychological abuse, rape, femicide);
- Sexual violence and harassment (rape, forced sexual acts, unwanted sexual advances, child sexual abuse, forced marriage, street and cyber harassment);
- Human trafficking (slavery, sexual exploitation);
- Genital mutilation; and
- Child marriage.
According to the 1993 UN Declaration, violence against women encompasses acts that cause physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering, as well as threats, coercion or deprivation of liberty, in both public and private life.
Violence impacts the physical, sexual and psychological health of women at all stages of their lives, affecting their education, employment and opportunities. Some women and girls, such as those in situations of vulnerability or humanitarian crises, migrants, indigenous women or women with disabilities, face greater risk.
Violence against women continues to be an obstacle to equality, development and peace, as well as to respect for human rights. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) seek to ensure that no one is left behind, but this cannot be achieved without first ending violence against women and girls.
Every 10 minutes a girl or a woman is killed
Violence against women and girls remains one of the most widespread and pervasive human rights violations in the world. Globally, it is estimated that nearly one in three women have been victims of physical and/or sexual violence at least once in their lifetime.
In 2023, around 51,100 women and girls around the world died at the hands of a family member, including their intimate partner. That is, a girl or woman was killed every 10 minutes.
This is a serious structural problem that has intensified in different environments, including the workplace, the internet and social media. Between 16% and 58% of women worldwide experience technology-facilitated gender-based violence, especially Generation Z and millennials.
Violence against women has been exacerbated by war and climate change. Seventy percent of women in a situation of conflict, war or humanitarian crisis experience gender-based violence.
The solution lies in ending impunity, adopting and funding action plans and investing in the solutions proposed by women’s rights movements.
#NoExcuse
As every year, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women marks the beginning of the UNiTE Campaign. There are 16 days of activism (from November 25 to December 10) that conclude coinciding with International Human Rights Day.
The theme for this commemoration in 2024 is “Every 10 Minutes, a woman is killed. #NoExcuse. UNiTE to End Violence against Women.” This slogan aims to mobilize all members of society in the face of an alarming escalation of violence against women, as well as to revitalize commitments and demand accountability and concrete action from decision-makers.
