Celebrated annually November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women seeks to raise awareness about the fact that women around the world are subject to rape, domestic violence and other forms of violence. It also aims to highlight that the scale and true nature of the issue is often hidden.
According to statistics, 1 in 3 women and girls experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, most frequently by an intimate partner.
Only 52% of women married or in a union freely make their own decisions about sexual relations, contraceptive use and health care.
Worldwide, almost 750 million women and girls alive today were married before their 18th birthday; while 200 million women and girls have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM).
1 in 2 women killed worldwide were killed by their partners or family in 2017; while only 1 out of 20 men were killed under similar circumstances.
71% of all human trafficking victims worldwide are women and girls, and 3 out of 4 of these women and girls are sexually exploited.
The 2019 theme for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women is ‘Orange the World: Generation Equality Stands Against Rape’.
As is the case with previous years, this year’s International Day will mark the launch of 16 days of activism that will conclude on 10 December 2019, which is International Human Rights Day.
Source: UN Women
