Day One International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

International President Yvonne Simpson calls on all Soroptimists to renew their efforts to eliminate
violence against women through education, empowerment and enabling
opportunities.

"When we unite we increase the impact of our call for action".

"One in
three women worldwide have experienced physical or sexual violence. According
to UN statistics one in two women killed worldwide were killed by their
partners or family – in comparison to a 1:20 ratio for men. Only 66% of
countries have outlawed domestic violence. This proves there is much to do
to bring about gender equality and develop a violence free world. The Soroptimist International campaign covering 16 Days of
Activism, intends to
educate and raise awareness of the issues facing women, especially those most
vulnerable to violence. Together we are A Global Voice for Women". International President, Yvonne Simpson

Image: UN WOMEN Infographic on Violence Against Women Click on image above to go to UN Women& view

The promise to eliminate gender-based violence is not new.
Twenty years ago, in 1995 a global commitment was made by governments to end
violence against women at the UN’s Fourth World Conference on Women. This
September the same promise was made as part of the Sustainable Development
Goals. The same promise must not be needed in twenty years’ time. Not one
country is free from gender violence, and this global problem demands global
action.

But why is gender-based violence such an important issue?
Besides the direct harms that women and girls who become victims to gender
violence experience, the prevalence of violence against women and girls in
every community affects their ability to become equal contributors to society.
Gender-based violence is rooted in discrimination, harmful traditional
practices and social norms across the world. These must be changed for violence
against women to end. Whilst confronting violence against women and girls, it
is important to remember that gender-based violence affects men and boys too.
It is critical that everyone works together to alter the attitudes that allow
gender-based violence to perpetuate.

This 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence provides an
opportunity for the thousands of civil society activists, NGOs, governments and
international organisations who are tirelessly working to create a world free
from violence, to share their work and ideas. Working with individuals and communities
will drive the global change that will empower women and girls, and men and
boys to live free from gender-based violence.

Today, and for the next fifteen days, Soroptimist International will be looking at different aspects of gender-based violence, including Female Genital Mutilation, the role of Men and Boys, Human Trafficking and the Role of Youth.

Help us spread the message! Join us during the 16 days of Activism Against Gender Violence by sharing your activities on our facebook page. Share posts and let us know what you are doing for the 16 Days of Activism and how you ‘Orange your world’!

Join the conversation on Twitter by using the hashtags #16days #Soroptimist #SImakingchange and#SIadvocates

Photo: Left: Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka UN Women

Video: "One of the clearest markers of Societies out of balance and we are determined to change that" UN Women Executive
Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka

From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World:

Make Education Safe for All

November 25, 2015 marks the brutal assassination of the three Mirabel
sisters in 1960, political activists in the Dominican Republic. Today, the Center for Women’s Global Leadership (CWGL) launches the annual 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign – together with over 5,478 organizations and other participants from 187 countries and territories, calling for an end to gender-based violence. The CWGL 2015 Campaign theme is From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World: Make Education Safe for All and recognizes that education is a public good and a fundamental human right recognized in Article 26 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and upheld in various international and regional human rights conventions and treaties.

Five minutes with Krishanti Dharmaraj, Executive Director of Centre for Women’s Global Leadership (CWGL)
as she talks to SI about the 16 Days of Activism campaign.

SIHQ: How did you come up with the idea this year’s
theme originated?

Krishanti: The
2015 theme was chosen as a result of a global participants’ survey.
Participants chose the right to education and gender-based violence, galvanized
in a major way by the kidnapping of young girl students by Boko Haram and
targeting of girl students elsewhere".

SIHQ: What do you hope that the 16 Days
campaign will achieve?

Krishanti: "Through the 16 Days Campaign, we
hope to bolster knowledge and awareness on the intersectional nature of
gender-based violence, its links to other forms of violence particularly
against women and girls, and to galvanize critical engagement on bringing
change in large and small ways toward ending gender based violence".

SIHQ: CWGL consistently calls for
a gender sensitive approach to be integrated across all programme and projects.
Why is a gender sensitive approach so important?

Krishanti: "If we are serious about
ending gender based violence, then we must recognise that violence is the
visible manifestation of gender based discrimination. Therefore, in order to
reduce gender based violence we must strategically integrate two concepts:
women’s leadership, and the integration of a gender analysis (a gender
sensitive working framework), into all aspects of decision making, regardless of
who is in leadership. This approach must influence governance, policy,
employment, program/services, and resource allocation".

"We
can see that this makes a real difference. For example, after becoming the
first city in the world to adopt an ordinance reflecting the principles of
CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against
Women), San Francisco implemented a gender analysis at the department of public
works. As a result of this gender analysis, the city reduced the distance
between the street lights as a result of recognising that how dark streets are
impacts women and men differently".

Image: UNiTE to End Violence against Women Campaign – An open invitation to Orange Your World

This year, to galvanize action to end violence against women
and girls around the world, the UNiTE to End Violence against Women Campaign
aims to ‘Orange the world.’ During the 16 days; from International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
on 25 November, to Human Rights Day on 10 December, ‘Orange Events’ will take
place around the world.

Events are planned in more than seventy countries running up to and throughout the 16 days. Major landmarks such as Niagara Falls, the European
Commission building, the Presidential Palace in Brasilia
and the Palais de Justice, will be lit up in trademark orange. From marathons in Venezuela, to orange flash mobs in Indonesia, this is the time for everyone to join together and xxx .

Join the conversation online with @SayNO_UNiTE on Twitter and on
Facebook, using the hashtags #orangetheworld and #16days.

Click on the link above to Download the UNiTE Toolkit