Background
On 17 December 1999, in its Resolution 54/134, the United Nations General Assembly designated 25 November as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
Women's activists have marked 25 November as a day against violence since 1981. This date came after the brutal assassination in 1960, of the three Mirabal sisters, political activists in the Dominican Republic, on orders of Dominican ruler Rafael Trujillo (1930-1961).
Studies have shown that violence against women is one of the biggest causes of ill-health amongst girls and women. The effect of violence against women can be measured in the number of women who die or are disabled as a result of injuries. Indirectly it manifests through their increased susceptibility to a number of mental and physical health problems.
Violence against women take the form of any of the following human rights violations which compromise their dignity, health, security ...
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Background
On 17 December 1999, in its Resolution 54/134, the United Nations General Assembly designated 25 November as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
Women's activists have marked 25 November as a day against violence since 1981. This date came after the brutal assassination in 1960, of the three Mirabal sisters, political activists in the Dominican Republic, on orders of Dominican ruler Rafael Trujillo (1930-1961).
Studies have shown that violence against women is one of the biggest causes of ill-health amongst girls and women. The effect of violence against women can be measured in the number of women who die or are disabled as a result of injuries. Indirectly it manifests through their increased susceptibility to a number of mental and physical health problems.
Violence against women take the form of any of the following human rights violations which compromise their dignity, health, security and autonomy; sexual abuse of children, rape, domestic violence, sexual assault and harassment, trafficking of women and girls and several harmful traditional practices.
According to a World Bank Study of ten countries, between 13% and 62% of women have experienced physical violence by a partner over the course of their lifetime and between 3% -29% of women reported violence within the past year.
The same paper reports that in South Africa, a woman is murdered by an intimate partner every six hours.
16 Days of Activism
The 16 days between 25 November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) and 10 December (International Human Rights Day) marks the “16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence.”
Theme 2011
The theme for 2011 commemorations is ”From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World: Let’s Challenge Militarism and End Violence against Women!”
The campaign has been used as an organizing strategy by individuals and groups around the world to call for the elimination of all forms of violence against women.
Messages of Inspiration
The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, said in his message “The right of women and girls to live free of violence is inalienable and fundamental. It is enshrined in international human rights and humanitarian law.” This also lies at the heart of Ban Ki-moon’s End Violence against Women campaign UNiTE campaign, launched in 2008. He added “The social mobilization platform “Say NO-UNiTE” has recorded more than 2 million activities worldwide – from protest marches to public awareness campaigns, from legislative advocacy to help for victims.”
In her first message for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, since UN Women became operational earlier this year, Executive Director Michelle Bachelet outlined a comprehensive policy agenda to end violence against women globally.
Focusing on the three critical pillars of Prevention, Protection and Provision of Services, Ms.Bachelet’s call for action urges world leaders to mobilize political will and investment to ensure that women can live a life without violence.
She also thanked Mr Ban Ki-moon for his support on this important global issue.
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