Human Lives Human Rights: On November 25, the world observes the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, a day established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993. This date serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle against gender-based violence, which remains a critical global issue despite the adoption of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) by the UN in 1979.
The UN defines violence against women as any gender-based violent act that results in physical, sexual, or psychological harm, encompassing threats, coercion, or arbitrary deprivation of liberty in both public and private spheres. Sadly, violence against women and girls is one of the most prevalent human rights violations today.
In 2023, an alarming 51,100 women were killed as a result of gender-based violence, with the disturbing statistic revealing that a woman is murdered every 10 minutes by a partner or family member. This spike in violence has led to the initiation of the campaign “Every 10 Minutes a Woman is Killed Without Justification” (UNiTE), which runs from November 25 to Human Rights Day on December 10. The campaign seeks to raise awareness of violence against women and to call for accountability and action from decision-makers.
In his message for the 2024 observance, UN Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted the issue, stating, “The epidemic of violence against women and girls shames humanity.” He noted that, on average, 140 women and girls are murdered daily, and one in three women continue to face physical or sexual violence. He emphasized that no country or community is immune to these realities and urged immediate action for justice and accountability.
Guterres also pointed out that conflicts, climate change, and hunger have intensified existing inequalities, and sexual violence is often used as a weapon of war. Additionally, women and girls face significant online misogyny, and the legal protections necessary to safeguard their rights are frequently undermined, putting human rights defenders for women’s rights at risk.
