November 25th: International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
| Every year, November 25th serves as a reminder of women’s resilience and the global effort to end gender-based violence. This day offers an opportunity to show understanding and empathy for survivors of violence and to emphasize the importance of collective action to protect the rights of women and girls around the world. |
This date was chosen to commemorate the sacrifice of the Mirabal sisters, three political activists from the Dominican Republic who were subjected to severe violence and murdered in 1960 on the orders of the dictatorial regime of Rafael Trujillo. Their resistance inspired global movements to combat violence against women.
The United Nations General Assembly defines violence against women as “any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women,” including “threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life.” The 1993 Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women recognizes that such violence may be perpetrated by individuals of the same gender, family members, or members of the wider community.
As one of the most widespread forms of human rights violations, violence against women must be brought to an end through the sustained efforts of governments, international organizations, civil society institutions, and every one of us. As Audrey Azoulay, former Director-General of UNESCO, emphasized: “Violence against women must stop. Everyone has a fundamental role to play in ensuring that gender-based violence is not tolerated. By defending women’s rights, we protect human rights as a whole.”
