admin | November 23, 2015
November 25 is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. The Day is the starting point for the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, which leads up to Human Rights Day, celebrated on December 10.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon gives the following advice: “Break the silence. When you witness violence against women and girls, do not sit back. Act.”
Why is there a need for these international days and for a campaign to end gender-based violence? Because violence against women is so prevalent, and because it’s a violation of women’s human rights. Gender-based violence is a consequence of discrimination against women in law and in practice, and of persisting inequalities between men and women.
Violence against women impedes progress in many areas, including the eradication of poverty and the fight against HIV and AIDS. In some countries, up to 70 per cent of women will experience gender-based violence in their lifetime.
But violence against women and girls is not inevitable. You can organize and broadcast programs on your station to raise awareness. For more information about the Day, and for online resources, go to: http://www.un.org/en/events/endviolenceday/
The UN Secretary-General’s Campaign UNiTE to End Violence against Women has proclaimed the 25th day of each month as “Orange Day,” a day to raise awareness and take action to stop violence against women and girls. To find out more, go to: http://endviolence.un.org/orangeday.shtml
For more information about the 16 Days of Action, go to: http://www.unwomen.org/en/news/in-focus/end-violence-against-women