What is International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women?

The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women is designated November 25 by the United Nations General Assembly. Throughout the world, this day is dedicated to raising awareness about the brutal fact that women are subjected to rape, domestic violence, and other forms of violence.

This date was chosen to pay respect to the great Mirabal sisters, three political activists from the Dominican Republic who were inhumanly murdered in 1960 by the order of the country’s ruler, Rafael Trujillo (1930-1961).

The General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women on December 20, 1993, in resolution 48/104, laying the groundwork for the global abolition of violence against women and girls.

The General Assembly finally passed resolution 54/134 on 7 February 2000, officially declaring 25 November to be the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. This resolution also invites governments, nongovernmental organizations, and other international organizations to collaborate and plan events to increase public awareness of the issue on this day each year.

Every year, the world commemorates November 25 and the subsequent 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence, which conclude on December 10, Human Rights Day, giving individuals and organizations the chance to organize and draw attention to the critical need to stop violence against women and girls.

The goal of this year's campaign is UNITE! Activism to End Violence against Women & Girls is to inspire all members of society to take up the cause of ending violence against women and girls, to show their support for those who fight for women's rights around the globe, and to become activists themselves.

There will be a UN official event there on November 24th as one of its events (10.00-11.30 am ET.) Through UN Web TV or the UN Women YouTube account, you can follow the event online.

Intimate partners are the biggest culprits of physical or sexual violence against one in three women worldwide. Violence against women and girls is a violation of their human rights, and it can have deadly immediate and long-term physical, sexual, and emotional ramifications, including death.

Women who experience violence are less able to participate fully in society and experience negative effects on their general well-being. It has an effect on their families, their neighborhoods, and the nation as a whole. It has high costs, including increased demands on the healthcare system, and litigation fees.

Women and girls are robbed of their basic right to live with dignity by gender-based violence such as domestic abuse, sexual assault, and other kinds. Domestic abuse and sexual assault against women and girls are prevalent and frightening. Governments, organizations, laws, and policies that fail to address gender-based violence and discriminate against those who are victims of it contribute to the systematic devaluing of the lives and safety of women and girls.

The impact of such special days won’t be as effective if women don’t learn to stand up for themselves. We do not have to accept anything we are not okay with. We must be courageous enough to stand up for ourselves before anybody else joins us in doing so. 

Image Courtesy: UpVee 

Be the woman who stands up for herself, raises a woman who can stand up for herself, encourages the women around her to stand up for herself, and supports the women she knows that stand up for themselves. 

You deserve a peaceful, dignified, and safe life. Create this for yourselves and let nobody mess with it. Protect yourselves and preach this message too!