In his message for the Day, Secretary-General António Guterres underlined the need to prioritize women’s leadership in finding solutions & to engage more men in the struggle.
He said that “The global community needs to hear the voices & experiences of women & girls & take into account their needs, especially survivors & those who face multiple & intersecting forms of discrimination".
Mr. Guterres reiterated his call from April this year, when he urged the international community to work to end the “shadow pandemic” of gender-based violence.
He said that “I reiterate & relaunch that appeal today”, he said.
Supporting ‘first responders’
The UN chief highlighted that action to stop violence against women, needed predictable & flexible funding for women’s rights organizations, which so often act as first responders in countries across the world.
He added that “It is critical that services for survivors of violence remain open, with adequate resources & measures in place to support health, social & justice responses".
He went on to note that such measures should not only focus on interventions once violence against women has occurred, but that they should work to “prevent violence occurring in the first place”, including through addressing cultural forces & societal norms, that create power imbalances.
Police & judicial systems also need to become more accountable, to make sure perpetrators don’t act with impunity.
“On this international day, let us redouble our efforts to eradicate gender-based violence forever,” declared Mr. Guterres.
COVID-19 & violence against women
While violence against women & girls has been a persisting & pervasive problem, it has only worsened with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Domestic violence, in particular, has escalated dramatically, according to UN-Women.
Women & girls are also disproportionately affected by the pandemic’s socio-economic impact, increasing the risk of violence.
Against this background, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of UN-Women, wrote to political leaders across the world and urged them to take tangible action & express their commitments to end violence against women.
She said that “As the world prepares to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women”, she said, “I would like to call on your Government to make visible at the highest level your commitment to addressing violence against women & girls in the context of COVID-19".
Ms. Mlambo-Ngcuka suggested that leaders highlight such commitments through statements on social media, a video message or text.
The International Day
In Dec 1999, the UN General Assembly designated 25 Nov as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, inviting Govts, international organizations & non-governmental organizations to hold activities designed to raise public awareness on the issue.
The Day also commemorates the brutal assassination in 1960, of the three Mirabal sisters, political activists in the Dominican Republic, on orders of former ruler Rafael Trujillo.
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