A Message from the UN: Stop Violence Against Women

November 25, 2012

Today, November 25, is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, created by the United Nations to raise public awareness of the problem. Watch the call to action from UN Women Executive Director and former President of Chile Michelle Bachelet. She says, “Today on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, I call on all leaders: Take a stand to end violence against women and girls,” and,

“We hope to see new and improved laws and national action plans that provide for safe houses, free hotline services and free health and legal aid to survivors. We count on education programmes that teach human rights, equality and mutual respect, and inspire young people to take leadership on ending violence against women and girls. We need increasing numbers of women in politics, law enforcement, and peacekeeping forces. We need equal economic opportunities and decent jobs for women.”

Up to 70 percent of women experience violence in their lifetime. The most common form is physical violence inflicted by an intimate partner. In fact, in the United States 40 to 70 percent of female murder victims were killed by their partners, according to the World Health Organization.

Contact your legislators and urge them to pass the Violence Against Women Act. As this New York Times editorial says, “The act’s reauthorization is must-do business for the lame-duck session.”