“Nowhere in the world is a woman safe from violence. The strengthening of global commitment to counteract this plague is a movement whose time has come.” – Asha-Rose Migiro (High Commissioner of Tanzania to the United Kingdom)
Every year on November 25, the world observes the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, a global reminder to take proactive steps to prevent gender based violence. Violence against women remains one of the world’s most persistent and under addressed human rights crises, with very little progress made in the past two decades, according to a landmark report released by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UN partners.
Some tend to narrow violence against women to only physical and sexual violence. However, it covers a wider range of issues, including psychological violence, discrimination, harassment, and systemic inequalities. These issues are often hidden, normalized, and dismissed by societies and even by victims themselves. For instance, female genital mutilation (FGM) is normalized and practiced in multiple parts of the world, and as UNFPA estimates, “230 million girls and women alive today are believed to have been subjected to some form of female genital mutilation.” Furthermore, nearly 1 in 3 women an estimated 840 million globally have experienced partner or sexual violence during their lifetime. At the same time, 73% of victims who experience workplace related trauma are female. Thus, women are safe neither in their own homes nor in their workplaces. While traditional social norms have long reinforced gender based violence, the rise of modern technology has enabled cyber abuse, creating a new form of gender based violence.
The world needs to witness greater engagement toward the betterment of women, while also appreciating the steps already taken. On this day, we are encouraged to support survivors, engage in open conversations, and advocate for policies that protect women’s rights. By standing together, challenging harmful norms, and promoting equality, we can move closer to a world where every woman and girl lives free from violence.
