Edited by: James Joseph | Managing Editor for Long-Form Content

In 2023, a woman was killed every ten minutes by a partner or family member, a UN report said. While figures like this may seem unfathomable, they reflect a world in which women are denied the most fundamental of human rights. United Nations statistics show that “one in three women have been subjected to physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both, at least once in their life.” There has been a systemic failure to protect women and break these pervasive cycles of violence across the world.

The 25th November marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (IDEVAW). How has this UN observance highlighted such a pernicious issue and what more can be done in the future to prevent such horrifying statistics?

Why an ‘international day?’

The UN has advocated for and implemented a number of days, weeks, months, years and even decades to promote a particular topic or theme. This is to highlight the importance of a variety of issues and place them on the international stage. Many of the days have been established through resolutions.

The date of the IDEVAW (25 November) commemorates the day, in 1960, that the Mirabal sisters were assassinated. The sisters were political activists, opposing the oppressive regime of the Dominican Republic’s dictator, General Rafael Trujillo, and were murdered under his orders. They became a powerful symbol of female resistance and the date for IDEVAW was chosen to reflect their commitment to human rights and equality.

In 1993, the UN adopted Resolution 48/104, the Declaration of the Elimination of Violence Against Women, which stated that there was “a need for a clear and comprehensive definition of violence against women, a clear statement of the rights to be applied to ensure the elimination of violence against women in all its forms.” Following this, seven years later in 1999, the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 54/134 and designated 25 November as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, stating that:

the human rights of women and of the girl child are an inalienable, integral and indivisible part of universal human rights…women do not fully enjoy their human rights and fundamental freedoms

IDEVAW as a platform for change

 Since then, the remit of IDEVAW has been extended to include “16 Days of Activism,” which is a period of 16 days from the 25 November to Human Rights Day on the 10th December. Spearheaded by UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, this campaigning period is designed to augment the messaging around IDEVAW and mobilise action across countries. This year, UNiTE is focussing on the theme: “Every 10 Minutes, a woman is killed. #NoExcuse. UNiTE to End Violence against Women.”

They are calling on states to address violence against women and girls in a more comprehensive, effective way by ending impunity for perpetrators and implementing laws and policies that hold them accountable. They ask for states to develop and fund National Action Plans to define policies further. They also request that states properly fund initiatives and organisations that work for survivors, so that they can access relevant, essential services.

In this way, IDEVAW and the associated campaigning can serve as platforms for progress on eliminating violence against women. By engaging with civil society organisations as well as national governments, further reforms can be developed at every level. Prioritising survivor-centred approaches is essential if these campaigns are to be successful. However, while IDEVAW can provide a fixed day of reflection and purpose-setting, it is important to emphasise that these efforts should be sustainable and implemented all year.

 Is it enough?

With IDEVAW being established 25 years ago, there is still much work to be done. Statistics from around the world show that violence against women and girls is still at an unacceptable level. 736 million women have experienced physical or sexual violence by a partner, non-partner, or both during their lifetime, despite these decades of advocacy. Around the world, women are abandoned by the laws of their own countries which often leave them disenfranchised and vulnerable. Even in countries where laws are made to protect women, they are often not enforced in an effective way due to pervasive stereotypes, myths and cultural beliefs that disregard the testimony and experiences of survivors. States must be held accountable for their records on women’s rights, with pressure being applied by international bodies like the UN and civil society organisations.

Laws are not made only to penalise violent criminals, they are made to establish strong frameworks for the prevention of violence, the support of survivors and, ultimately, justice. Without effective training for law enforcement, access to justice, survivor support and robust accountability mechanisms, the campaigns around IDEVAW can seem empty.

Ultimately, having an international focus on violence against women and girls is essential for change. By increasing awareness of the issue at the highest levels, it will be possible to effect change for women and girls the world over.