UNIFEM UK: Working for women's empowerment and gender equality

Progress for Women Is Progress for All

International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

25 November 2006

…As long as violence against women continues, we cannot claim to be making real progress towards equality, development and peace…

In-Depth Study on All Forms of Violence against Women: Report of the UN Secretary-General, 2006

Violence against women is one of the greatest indicators of gender inequality and it can take on many forms, from domestic violence to culturally condoned practices such as honour killings or female genital mutilation. One of the most important calendar dates highlighting the pervasiveness of gender-based violence falls on the 25th of November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

UN agencies have joined forces with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and governments to implement campaigns to raise awareness and mobilise community action. Working to end violence is one of UNIFEM's key roles. This year UNIFEM UK is making the UNIFEM Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women the focus of its fundraising efforts. "This International Day is the opportunity to reiterate the fact that violence is not acceptable under any circumstances. It is an abuse of women's human rights," said Juliet Colman, President of UNIFEM UK. "The message must be clear that violence against women in all forms, in all cultures, in all countries, is wrong."

Awareness-raising does not just end after the 25th of November. What follows that date are 16 days of activism which continue the campaign to pursue positive change in community attitudes and practices related to gender-based violence. The 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence (25 November – 10 December) is an annual campaign orchestrated since 1991 by the Centre for Women's Global Leadership and involving hundreds of organisations around the world. Activities range from media programmes to demonstrations, conferences, exhibitions and performances. In 1999 the UN joined the campaign by designating 25th November – the date when three political activists from the Dominican Republic known as the Mirabal Sisters were assassinated in 1961 – as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The 2006 campaign will highlight the human rights aspects, emphasising the relationship between advancing human rights and ending violence against women.

This year UNIFEM's Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women will distribute US$3.5 million in grants to initiatives in developing countries, up from US$1.8million in 2005 and nearly four times more than in 2004. Grants for 28 projects in 20 countries have just been announced, mostly to groups working to ensure that policies and laws to address violence against women are implemented. In January, grants to initiatives which focus on the link between gender-based violence and HIV/AIDS will be announced.

To find out more about the recent UN Study on Violence Against Women and the projects supported by UNIFEM's Trust Fund, click on the link below.

Why not make your own contribution to this year's international campaign to end violence against women with a donation to UNIFEM's Trust Fund? Just click on the top box in the column opposite to make an online donation.

You can now donate securely online (and qualify for gift aid)

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The projects undertaken by UNIFEM make a difference to the everyday lives of women around and their families around the world. UNIFEM UK needs your support to help fund this work and to raise awareness of the issues affecting women's rights and security.