International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is observed globally every year on November 25. It is a vital day of recognition, remembrance, and activism, calling attention to the urgent need to end violence in all forms against women and girls. This observance is not only about awareness – it is a call to action for governments, institutions, and individuals to commit to real change.
What is International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women?
This day shines a spotlight on one of the most widespread and devastating human rights violations in the world: gender-based violence. From domestic abuse and sexual assault to forced marriage and trafficking, violence against women and girls exists in every country and culture. The day was officially designated by the United Nations General Assembly in 1999, following decades of advocacy by feminist movements, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean.
It also honors the legacy of the Mirabal sisters – Patria, Minerva, and María Teresa – who were political activists brutally assassinated on November 25, 1960, under the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo in the Dominican Republic. Their resistance and tragic deaths became a symbol of both the cost of speaking out and the courage required to stand up against violence and oppression.
Each year, the day launches the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, a global campaign that runs until December 10, which is Human Rights Day. This annual period unites people worldwide to raise awareness, demand accountability, and push for progress on gender justice and equality.
When is International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women?
The observance takes place every November 25. Though the date is fixed, the impact extends far beyond one day. The global 16 Days of Activism that follow it provide space for extended education, fundraising, policy conversations, and community events.
During this time, buildings are often lit up in orange – the official color of the campaign – as a symbol of hope and solidarity. Public marches, vigils, survivor-led panels, and digital campaigns all aim to amplify voices that are too often silenced.
Why International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women Matters
Violence against women and girls is not inevitable – but it is alarmingly persistent. According to the World Health Organization, 1 in 3 women worldwide has experienced physical or sexual violence in her lifetime, mostly at the hands of an intimate partner. And those numbers are just the tip of the iceberg. Many incidents go unreported due to fear, shame, social stigma, or lack of access to justice systems.
This violence has profound consequences – not just for the survivors, but for communities and societies at large. It affects mental health, physical wellbeing, economic stability, education, and public safety. Survivors often live with lifelong trauma, and in too many cases, do not survive at all.
Gender-based violence disproportionately affects marginalized women: Indigenous women, women of color, trans women, disabled women, migrants, refugees, and women living in conflict zones are at higher risk and face greater barriers to protection and support.
By shining a light on these issues, International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women helps break the silence that allows abuse to thrive. It shifts the conversation from blaming victims to holding perpetrators – and systems – accountable. And it reinforces the idea that violence is not personal or private – it is political, structural, and urgent to address.
How to Get Involved in International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
Ending violence requires both grassroots energy and institutional change. Here’s how individuals, organizations, and communities can take part:
- Wear orange: Orange is the campaign’s symbolic color. Wearing it shows solidarity with survivors and signals your commitment to ending violence.
- Attend or organize events: Look for local vigils, panel discussions, protest marches, or awareness-raising activities in your area – or host one yourself.
- Share survivor stories: If safe and appropriate, share or uplift stories of resilience, resistance, and recovery. Let survivors lead the narrative.
- Donate or fundraise: Support local shelters, hotlines, or advocacy organizations doing frontline work to protect and empower women and girls.
- Educate yourself and others: Learn about the root causes of gender-based violence and how to identify and respond to abuse in all its forms.
- Call out harmful behavior: Challenge sexist jokes, victim-blaming language, and normalizing of violence when you see or hear it – in your workplace, school, or online spaces.
- Lobby for stronger laws: Push for policy changes that hold abusers accountable, protect survivors, and close the justice gap for women around the world.
History of International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
The movement behind this day began decades before it was recognized by the United Nations. In the 1980s and 1990s, feminist and human rights groups in Latin America and the Caribbean began commemorating November 25 in memory of the Mirabal sisters. Their activism was rooted in defiance against state violence, gender oppression, and dictatorship.
By 1999, global momentum had built. The UN General Assembly officially adopted the date, encouraging governments and civil society to organize activities every year to raise public awareness. The UN also developed frameworks like the UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign, launched in 2008, to foster collaboration across sectors and regions.
Over time, the day has evolved to include intersectional discussions about power, access, and the different ways women and girls experience violence based on their identity. It has become a critical rallying point for transnational movements working toward safer, freer, and more equal societies.
Noteworthy Facts About International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
- Globally, an estimated 736 million women – almost one in three – have been subjected to physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both at least once in their life.
- In most countries, fewer than 40 percent of women who experience violence seek help of any sort. Among those who do, most turn to family or friends rather than formal institutions.
- The COVID-19 pandemic triggered what many called a “shadow pandemic” – an increase in domestic and gender-based violence during lockdowns, with limited access to escape or support.
- Only two out of three countries have outlawed domestic violence. And in many places, marital rape is still not recognized as a crime.
- Online violence, including cyberstalking, image-based abuse, and digital harassment, has risen sharply – especially targeting women journalists, activists, and public figures.
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#EndViolenceAgainstWomen, #OrangeTheWorld, #16Days, #November25
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