November 25 marked the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon stated, “Violence against women and girls is a global pandemic that destroys lives, fractures communities and holds back development . . . It is present at every level of every society in the world.” The Executive Director of UN Women reminded the world that at least one in three women will experience violence or rape in her lifetime.
On November 25, the U.N. initiated a 16-day global campaign to inspire individuals and communities to end violence against women called, Orange your neighborhood. The campaign will run through December 10.
The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women began in 1981 to honor three women activists killed in the Dominican Republic in 1960. The day is intended to raise public awareness of violence and discrimination against women.
Compiled from: UN sounds alarm to end ‘global pandemic’ of violence against women, U.N. News Centre (November 25, 2014); UN calls for end to violence against women, Al-Jazeera (November 25, 2014).