International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women observed on 25 November

International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women is observed on 25 November 2013 across the world to raise awareness about violence against women.

The theme for the year 2013 is: 'Unite to End Violence against Women'

This year, the UNITE Campaign is extending Orange Day to 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, starting from 25 November,  International Day to End Violence Against Women, through 10 December, Human Rights Day.

In 1999 the UN General Assembly designated 25 November as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The date of 25 November was chosen to commemorate the Mirabal sisters, three political activists Dominican ruler Rafael Trujillo (1930-1961) ordered brutally assassinate in 1960.

Why This International Day?

• Violence against women is a human rights violation
• Violence against women is a consequence of discrimination against women, in law and also in practice, and of persisting inequalities between men and women
• Violence against women impacts on, and impedes, progress in many areas, including poverty eradication, combating HIV/AIDS, and peace and security
• Violence against women and girls is not inevitable. Prevention is possible and essential.
• Violence against women continues to be a global pandemic. Up to 70 per cent of women experience violence in their lifetime.

Facts and figures about Violence against women

• Up to 70 per cent of women experience violence in their lifetime.
• Between 500000 to 2 million people are trafficked annually into situations including prostitution, forced labour, slavery or servitude, according to estimates. Women and girls account for about 80 per cent of the detected victims
• It is estimated that more than 130 million girls and women alive today have undergone FGM/C, mainly in Africa and some Middle Eastern countries.
• The cost of intimate partner violence in the United States alone exceeds 5.8 billion Dollars per year: 4.1 billion Dollar is for direct medical and health care services, while productivity losses account for nearly 1.8 billion Dollars.

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