Each year on November 25th, the global community comes together to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Established by the United Nations in 1999, this day serves as a powerful call to raise awareness and take concrete action to end violence affecting millions of women and girls worldwide.
WHERE DO WE STAND?
Over the past few decades, the world has made significant progress in advancing women’s rights. Many countries have adopted laws aimed at protecting women, supported by landmark international frameworks such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Beijing Declaration. These agreements provide civil society with powerful tools to hold states accountable for their commitments.
Despite this progress, resistance to gender equality has grown. As feminist movements push for change, conservative and anti-right forces have gained visibility and strength, making the struggle more contentious and the balance of power uneven.
Read more: Women’s rights, fighting the backlash. What role for France?
The #MeToo movement and its global counterparts have marked a turning point, breaking the silence surrounding violence against women. Victims increasingly feel empowered to share their stories, shedding light on the pervasive nature of gender-based violence. However, while awareness has grown, systemic responses remain inadequate, and the support available to survivors falls far short of meeting the urgent need.
THE WORK AHEAD: WHAT STILL NEEDS TO BE DONE?
Despite growing awareness, violence against women remains alarmingly widespread. Femicide, domestic abuse, forced marriages, sexual violence, and gender-based harassment continue to plague communities. Achieving a world free from violence against women demands renewed determination and concrete action.
Here’s how we can move forward:
1. Increase funding for grassroots organizations
Grassroots organizations and feminists are on the frontlines of prevention, victim support, and advocacy. To ensure sustained progress, these groups need greater financial resources. Initiatives like Feminists in Action demonstrate the effectiveness of investing in feminist movements and must be expanded to empower more organizations to make tangible differences.
Read more: suppporting feminist organization
2. Strengthen and enforce laws
While many countries have laws protecting women’s rights, enforcement remains inconsistent. Governments must ensure that laws addressing violence against women are implemented effectively. This includes training law enforcement officers and judicial officials to recognize and address gender-based violence appropriately.
3. Promote education and awareness
Education is key to prevention. School curriculums should include lessons on human rights, gender equality, and violence prevention from an early age. Meanwhile, public awareness campaigns must continue targeting broad audiences, particularly men and boys, to challenge harmful attitudes and behaviors.
The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women serves as a moment to reflect on the progress made and the work that remains. Achieving a world free of violence against women and girls requires collective effort, unwavering solidarity, and persistent advocacy. From increasing grassroots support to amplifying voices in regions where women’s rights are most at risk, such as Afghanistan and Iran, the fight against violence demands action from all corners of the globe. Feminists everywhere must continue the push, ensuring no one is left behind in the quest for equality and safety. Together, we can make a world without violence a reality.