25 November - International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

More information as well as books to read on the topic here: UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

Also, a campaign organised between UNIFEM and the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Campaign, Not a Minute More

Sixteen Days of Activism: Sixteen Days of Hope
*Gender-based violence is one of the most pervasive of human rights abuses. It covers a range of injustices – from gender abuse to systematic rape and from pre-birth sex selection to female genital mutilation – that affect as many as one in three women. *Ending gender violence will take action on many fronts every day of the year. But *16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence *is a start. This worldwide campaign begins on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and ends 10 December with International Human Rights Day. It provides NGOs, international organizations, governments, individuals and the media an opportunity to mobilize for women's rights and against impunity for perpetrators. This year's theme *For the Health of Women, For the Health of the World: No More Violence*, focuses on the link between HIV and violence against women and girls.

16 Ways UNFPA Addresses Gender-based Violence

1. Providing alternatives to ‘survival sex'
In the capital of Haiti, which is plagued by political and social unrest, 11- and 12- year-old girls trade sexual favours for spending money. A drop-in centre offers them other options.

2. Speaking up for millions of missing girls
Discrimination against daughters, leading to pre-birth sex selection or even infanticide, has left parts of China and South Asia with severe sex ratio imbalances.

3. Speaking out against unacceptable practices
Half of the murders of women in some Arab countries are so-called ‘honour killings', often committed by family members with impunity.

4. Treating and supporting survivors of extreme sexual violence
In the Great Lakes countries of Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, an epidemic of brutal rape wreaks havoc on the lives of survivors and continues to demoralize communities and destabilize the region.

5. Training police to deal with domestic violence
In many countries, UNFPA supports training of police officers to assist abused women by taking their cases seriously, informing them of their rights and sometimes even providing victim protection.

6. Highlighting the high costs to women and society
Chapter 7 of the 2005 State of World Population report documents the high social, emotional and economic costs of gender-based violence.

7. Calling attention to a new form of slavery
UNFPA works closely with governments to address the ever-widening threat posed by human trafficking and supports women and girls in their recovery and return.

8. Partnering to stop sexual violence in armed conflict and disaster settings
At a landmark conference chaired by UNFPA, a broad coalition of partners agreed to strengthen collaboration at all levels to end sexual violence in situations of conflict, post-conflict, displacement, and natural disaster settings.

9. Implementing UN Security Council resolution 1325
UNFPA plays a vital role in protecting women against gender-based violence, during and after times of conflict, as called for the UN Security Council.

10. Assisting survivors of domestic violence
Most violence against women occurs in the home. But women often stay with abusive partners because they have no other place to go. UNFPA-supported shelters offer an alternative.

11. Providing a safe haven for girls escaping coerced marriage
In many countries, forced child marriage robs girls of their human rights and subjects them to violence. UNFPA-supported shelters provide a haven for young girls trying to escape a cruel fate.

12. Addressing the needs of women in refugee camps
Refugee camps are intended to be safe havens – but displaced women often face many forms of gender-based violence. UNFPA has partnered on an interagency field manual that includes guidelines for addressing sexual and gender-based violence in refugee camps.

13. Taking concerted action to address domestic violence
An Indonesian NGO is tackling violence against women by raising awareness of the issue, providing shelter, seeking peaceful reconciliation, and when that doesn't work, taking perpetrators to court.

14. Promoting legislative reform and the enforcement of existing laws
UNFPA works with parliamentarians and monitors legislation in both Europe and the developing world having to do with domestic violence, gender equality and sexual exploitation and offences against minors.

15. Involving men
Ending gender-based violence will require the full engagement and participation of men. UNFPA seeks to involve them in many ways.

16. Supporting local activities in countries around the world
Many of UNFPA offices throughout the world have planned activities to mobilize support for the 16 Days of Activism.
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