Ending inequality means ending ‘global pandemic’ of violence against women

Until women and girls can live free of fear, violence and insecurity, the world cannot pride itself on being fair and equal, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said on November 19, commemorating the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, marked annually on 25 November.

“At its core, violence against women and girls in all its forms is the manifestation of a profound lack of respect­ ­– a failure by men to recognize the inherent equality and dignity of women,” Mr. Guterres said at a special event at UN Headquarters observing the Day, which highlights that violence against women is a serious cause of death and incapacity as cancer, among women of reproductive age.

The Day kicks off the 16 Days of Activism under the Secretary-Generals’ UNiTe campaign, which calls on people of all sectors to join in addressing the global pandemic of violence against women and girls.

This year’s theme is ‘Orange the World: #HearMeToo,’ and as in previous years, the color orange is used to draw global attention to the issue, while the hashtag is encouraged to amplify the message of survivors and activists and to put them at the centre of the conversation and response.

The theme also aims to broaden the global conversation and highlight the voices and activism of all survivors of violence and advocates around the world – many of whom are often missing from the media headlines and social media discussion

Still, hundreds of millions of women are victims of violence or sexual abuse.

Pointing to alarming statistics, Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces, President of the UN General Assembly, reported that an estimated 35 percent of women have experienced some form of physical and or sexual violence, and as many as 38 percent of murders of women are committed by an intimate partner.

“It is a sad reflection on all communities, States, and the United Nations that the world is still far from reaching the goal of ending violence against women and girls. We are still far away” she told Monday’s event.

Original source: UN News
Published on 19 November 2018