International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women 2024
International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women is a period of 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence which is observed from the 25th of November to the 10th of December every year since 1981 to increase the public awareness of the adverse impacts of violence against women on one's health and society and to reaffirm the commitment of working together inclusively.
On this day, national and various international governments, civil society organizations, the United Nations and other partners come together to organise meetings and educational programmes honouring the 16 Days of Gender-Based Violence Activism.
Importance of International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
Violence against women and girls remains one of the world’s most pervasive human rights violations. Due to the impunity, stigma, silence and shame around it, violence against women and girls (VAWG) tends to go unreported.
Generally, violence is expressed through physical, sexual, and psychological means, covering a range of atrocities that include:
- Intimate partner violence (battering, psychological abuse, marital rape, femicide)
- Sexual violence and harassment (rape, forced sexual acts, unwanted sexual advances, child sexual abuse, forced marriage, street harassment, stalking, cyber-harassment)
- Human trafficking (slavery, sexual exploitation)
- Female genital mutilation
- Child marriage
Globally, an estimated 7.36 crore women (nearly one in three) experience physical and/or sexual violence from a partner or non-partner. The adverse impact of violence against women and girls on their psychological, sexual and reproductive health lasts throughout their lives.
While gender-based violence can affect any individual, irrespective of their gender, age, or ethnicity, certain groups of women and girls are particularly vulnerable. These groups include young girls and older women, those who identify themselves as lesbian, bisexual, transgender, migrants and refugees, indigenous women and ethnic minorities, women and girls living with HIV and disabilities, and those who are enduring humanitarian crises.
Violence against women remains a major barrier to achieving equality, development, and peace, as well as to upholding the human rights of women and girls, so International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women is honoured to emphasize that violence against women and girls can be avoided and its negative consequences reduced.
International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women 2024 Theme
This year, 2024, International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women theme is “Every 11 Minutes, a woman is killed. #NoExcuse. UNiTE to End Violence against Women”.
The theme encourages citizens to demonstrate how much they care about ending violence against women and girls by discussing the steps they are taking to achieve a world free of violence against women. This year's campaign also encourages governments around the world to share their investments in gender-based violence prevention.
Year by year, the themes for International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
- International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women 2023 Theme: Invest to Prevent Violence against Women & Girls
- International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women 2022 Theme: UNITE! Activism to End Violence against Women and Girls!
- International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women 2021 Theme: Orange the World: End Violence against Women Now!
- International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women 2020 Theme: Orange the World: Fund, Respond, Prevent, Collect!
History of International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
In 1981, activists at the Latin American and Caribbean Feminist Encuentros (meetings) in Bogotá, Colombia, designated the 25th of November to be a day of protest and awareness against violence against women henceforth. They chose this date to commemorate the Mirabal Sisters' sacrifice.
On December 20, 1993, the General Assembly passed a resolution (48/104) stating the adoption of the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women. The solution was adopted to pave the way for the global eradication of violence against women and girls.
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