Every 10 Minutes A Woman Is Killed

“No country can ever truly flourish if it stifles the potential of its women and deprives itself of the contributions of half of its citizens.” - Michelle Obama. Every 10 minutes a woman is killed. Violence against women and girls remains one of the most prevalent and pervasive human rights violations in the world. Globally, almost one in three women has been subjected to physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both, at least once in their life. The United Nations (UN) adds that for at least 51,100 women in 2023, the cycle of gender-based violence ended with one final and brutal act their murder by partners and family members. That means a woman was killed every 10 minutes. In order to raise awareness and trigger action to end this global scourge, the UN observes International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 25 November. The date marks the brutal assassination in 1960 of the three Mirabal sisters, political activists in the Dominican Republic. The 2024 campaign ‘Every 10 Minutes, a woman is killed. #NoExcuse. UNiTE to End Violence against Women’, will draw attention to the alarming escalation of violence against women to revitalize commitments, call for accountability and action from decision-makers. Violence against women and girls (VAWG) remains largely unreported due to the impunity, silence, stigma and shame surrounding it. It can manifest in physical, sexual and psychological forms, encompassing: intimate partner violence (battering, psychological abuse marital rape, femicide); sexual violence and harassment (rape, forced sexual acts, unwanted sexual advances, child sexual abuse, forced marriage, street harassment, stalking, cyber- harassment); human trafficking (slavery, sexual exploitation); female genital mutilation and child marriage. The United Nations (UN) Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women issued in 1993, defines violence against women as “any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.” This affects women at all stages of their life, including education, employment, and opportunities. Some women and girls, such as those in vulnerable situations or humanitarian crises, migrants, LGTBI, indigenous people or those with disabilities, face greater risk. This scourge has intensified in different settings, including the workplace and online spaces, and has been exacerbated by conflicts, and climate change. The recent violent sexual assault of a schoolgirl in Jamaica by multiple boys underscores the urgency that is required to address this societal plague through awareness and education. The sexual act was also recorded and shared on social media by the perpetrators. 16 Days of Activism. Globally, an estimated 736 million women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence. Girls are at particular risk of violence. The United Nations declares that in times of crisis, women are often forced to flee alone or with children, undertake dangerous journeys and deal with precarious living conditions. If available at all, accommodations are typically temporary, overcrowded and, too often, unsafe. Sexual exploitation and abuse rise as women are stripped of their safety nets and networks. Some turn to damaging coping mechanisms to survive, such as the provision of sexual services in exchange for food, money or safe passage. Violence negatively affects women’s general well-being and prevents women from fully participating in society. It impacts their families, their community, and the country at large. It has tremendous costs, from greater strains on health care to legal expenses and losses in productivity. For example, since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021 girls have been barred from high school and women from universities. The Taliban have also stopped most Afghan female staff from working at aid agencies, closed beauty salons, barred women from parks and curtailed travel for women in the absence of a male guardian. Meanwhile, at a time when the needs of women and girls are highest, access to services and support shrinks. Displacement disrupts health and protection structures, ruptures community support systems and separates families. For survivors of gender-based violence, the impact on their physical and mental health is immeasurable. Further, gender-based violence is a vastly under-reported and under-investigated crime, perpetuated by a cycle of impunity for abusers. This fosters an environment of fear and stigma, hindering the healing of survivors and negating their right of access to justice and support. This year 2024 marks 25 years since the declaration of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, which is why the General Assembly will hold an event to reflect on the progress and achievements made to eliminate gender violence. The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women will mark the launch of the UNiTE campaign (Nov 25- Dec 10) an initiative of 16 days of activism concluding on the day that commemorates the International Human Rights Day (10 December). The Way Forward. Women rights are human rights. The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1979. (CEDAW). However, the issue of violence against women and girls continues to exist on a global scale. Without a doubt, more work is needed to achieve the elimination of violence against women. Unfortunately too many men still view women’s bodies as an entitlement infused with a permissive culture of sexual abuse. This culture of entitlement has been passed down through socialization, or more specifically the gendered socialization of some men, especially in those countries where the rights of women are far and in between. Sadly, most societies tend to make excuses for the perpetrators in cases of sexual abuse. Societies must therefore move away from this description. There is an urgency for Societies to rekindle the flame of activism regarding violence against women. Regrettably, in a significant number of instances the ideology of patriarchy supports this dangerous narrative and this needs to be interrogated. Men too must join the campaign regarding the elimination of all violence against women. Disturbingly, the United Nations reports that to date, only two out of three countries have outlawed domestic violence, while 37 countries worldwide still exempt rape perpetrators from prosecution if they are married to or eventually marry the victim and 49 countries currently have no laws protecting women from domestic violence. Violence against women continues to be an obstacle to achieving equality, development, peace as well as to the fulfillment of women and girls’ human rights. The solution lies in robust responses, holding perpetrators accountable, and accelerating action through well-resourced national strategies and increased funding to women’s rights movements. Additionally, there is an urgent need for more investment in women’s organizations, better legislation, prosecution of perpetrators, more services for survivors, and training for law enforcement officials. On this the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women our collective voices must be unified as we speak out and join the global campaign of creating solutions to end these human rights violations. In the words of Kofi Annan, violence against women is perhaps the most shameful human rights violation, and it is perhaps the most pervasive. It knows no boundaries of geography, culture or wealth. As long as it continues, we cannot claim to be making real progress towards equality, development and peace. Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues. waykam@yahoo.com @WayneCamo © #InternationalDayfortheEliminationofViolenceAgainstWomen #NoExcuse #CEDAW #EndGBV #GenderViolence