International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

The United Nations General Assembly has designated November 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (Resolution 54/134). The premise of the day is to raise awareness of the fact that women around the world are subject to rape, domestic violence and other forms of violence; furthermore, one of the aims of the day is to highlight that the scale and true nature of the issue is often hidden. For 2014, the official Theme framed by the UN Secretary-General’s campaign UNiTE to End Violence against Women, is Orange your Neighbourhood…. The date of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women also marks the start of the “16 Days of Activism” that precedes Human Rights Day on December 10 each year. Wikixpedia

According to UNESCO “1 in 3 women has experienced physical or sexual violence at some point in their lives, while psychological abuse has still not received sufficient attention. However, in most countries, less than 40% women who experience violence seek any kind of help, and less than 10% seek help from the police.
In 2015, 125 counties have laws on sexual harassment, 119 countries have laws on domestic violence, and only 52 have laws on marital rape. In many countries, women still don’t have the right to decide whether or not to have sex, and their “no” is seldom taken seriously.”

WHO’s typology table

Pressenza, based on New Humanist thinking which opposes all forms of violence and discrimination would like to echo on this day the need to educate and form both men and women in order to eliminate this age old and ongoing dehumanising practice.

Denouncing violence and discrimination against women wherever they take place and organising different forms of raising awareness will contribute to the formation of a more humanised and nonviolent society in general. From the MeToo movement to the different initiatives developing around the world, they all need our active support.