Violence against women is a human rights violation and a consequence of discrimination against women, in law and also in practice, as well as of persisting inequalities between men and women. This violence impacts on, and impedes, progress in many areas, including poverty eradication, combating HIV/AIDS, and peace and security. There is no excuse for violence against women and prevention is possible and essential.
Women’s activists have marked 25 November as a day against violence since 1981. This date came from the brutal assassination in 1960, of the three Mirabal sisters, political activists in the Dominican Republic, on orders of Dominican ruler Rafael Trujillo (1930-1961).
On 20 December 1993 the General Assembly, by resolution 48/104, adopted the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women.
In this context, in 1999 the United Nations General Assembly designated 25 November as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and invited governments, international organizations and NGOs to organize on that day activities designed to raise public awareness of the problem.
The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women also launches the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence, which runs through to 10 December, Human Rights Day. A time to galvanise action to end violence against women and girls around the world.
According to the United Nations, violence against women means “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”.
The term “gender-based violence” is often used interchangeably with “violence against women,” reflecting the fact that a disproportionate number of gender-based crimes are committed against women. It is a global pandemic, deeply rooted in gender inequality, and is fundamentally a human rights violation. Gender-based violence has no social or economic boundaries. It is present in all countries, rich and poor, and affects all socio-economic groups.
Globally, 1 woman out of 3 has experienced some form of physical, psychological or sexual violence. In some countries, this dramatic figure increases, involving 7 women out of 10. Violence against women is one of the most spread human rights violations, and affects women of any age, ethnic group, culture, and social class.
An estimated 133 million girls and women have experienced some form of female genital mutilation, whilst more than 700 million women alive today were married as children, 250 million of whom were married before the age of 15.603 million women live in countries where domestic violence is not yet considered a crime. Women and girls make up 80% of the estimated 800,000 people trafficked across national borders annually, with 79% of them trafficked for sexual exploitation.
Under the theme, we recognize that digital violence is real violence. Women and girls face harassment, threats, and abuse online. Today, as the world pauses to recognise the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women we must confront the reality that violence is no longer only physical. It has moved into our phones, our screens, and our digital lives. This year’s theme, “End digital violence against all women and girls,” is a powerful reminder that technology must be part of the solution-not another barrier.
Technology has the power to connect, educate, and uplift, but it can also be used to control, silence, and harm. Women and girls are being silenced through threats, humiliation, hacking, stalking, revenge porn, impersonation, and deepfake abuse. Just because it happens online, many people still dismiss it. Digital violence leaves real emotional wounds, real fear, and real long-term harm.
It's also worth noting that political imprisonment is also a key aspect of the institutional violence against Palestinian women enacted by Israeli occupation and colonization and enabled by U.S., Canadian and European support for Israel’s ongoing war crimes and crimes against humanity targeting the Palestinian people.
Not only this, for years, women have been at the centre of abuse and gender-based violence. From battling societal norms to quashing stereotypes, women all over the world have been fighting for equality, peace and harmony. International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women is a day that emphasises the importance of creating an uplifting environment for women across the world.
It’s essential that those impacted know that their is help is available and they are not alone. Violence against women and girls is one of the most widespread violations of human rights. 25 November and the ensuing 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence which follow are a chance to mobilize and call attention to the urgent need to end violence against women and girls.
Around 840 million women have experienced physical or sexual abuse from an intimate partner or non-partner at least once in their lives - that’s roughly 1 in 3 women.
On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and every day, the message is the same: violence against women must be stopped and we must .reaffirm our commitment to protecting women and girls from all kinds of violence. We must reaffirm that every woman and girl has the right to live free from fear, while recognising that ending violence is everyone’s responsibility, and encourage everyone to stand with survivors and commit to creating a safer community for all. Together, we can end violence and support those in need.
Acknowledging too that Digital violence is real violence and that every woman deserves safety online and offline. This is not just a day of awareness. It’s a call to action. A call to raise our voices. A call to protect girls before harm reaches them. A call to build a digital world where women can speak, create, lead, and exist without fear.
Digital spaces should widen opportunity, not weaponise harm. Yet across the world, and across our continents, women and girls face an alarming rise in online harassment, cyberstalking, doxxing, deepfake abuse, and coordinated smear campaigns that attempt to silence, shame, and intimidate them out of public life. This is real violence. With real consequences. And there is no excuse.
Digital violence restricts women’s political participation, undermines mental health, erodes dignity, and reinforces structural inequalities. It teaches girls to withdraw rather than speak. To shrink rather than lead. It punishes women simply for showing up. We must refuse this. We must challenge this. Calling out online abuse, not normalising it. Strengthening legal and institutional protections for women and girls.
Building safer digital communities where voices are amplified, not attacked. Supporting survivors and centering their wellbeing. Demanding accountability from platforms, policymakers, and perpetrators. Every woman deserves digital spaces that are safe, dignified, and free from violence. Every girl deserves to grow into a world where her voice is not a battlefield. Let us unite, in our workplaces, our platforms, and our personal interactions, to end digital violence. The internet must be a place of freedom, expression, and possibility for all.
This day also acts as a reminder that progress means nothing if safety and dignity aren’t universal. Change begins with awareness, but it endures through accountability, in homes, workplaces, and institutions alike. Let the 16 days begin with courage, clarity, unity and courage. Respect isn’t an ideal; it’s the baseline of any civilized society.
Violence in any form is never acceptable, offline or online. No excuses. We must stand together to build both digital and physical spaces that are grounded in respect, privacy, and dignity. Together, we can create a world where safety is universal and compassion is the norm.
For more information: https://un.org/en/observances/ending-violence-against-women-day
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