The International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women!
by The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women also launches the 16 Days of Activism and campaign against Gender Violence, which runs from November 25, through 10 December, Human Rights Day.
The International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women!
Image via Wikipedia :UN General Assembly Hall in the New York City
In the year 1999, the United Nations General Assembly declared November 25, as the International Day for elimination of violence against women and invited governments, International Organizations and NGOs to organize activities designated to raise public awareness of the problem.
Image via Wikipedia : UN General Secretary Ban Ki-Moon with former US president George W.Bush
UNIFEM (United Nations Development Fund for Women) also observes this day every year. Say No-UNiTE to End Violence against Women is a global call for action launched in November,2009, on ending violence against women and girls. It is presented by UNIFEM as a contribution to advance the objectives of the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon’s campaign UNiTE to End Violence against Women through social mobilization.
However, from the year 1981, women activists had been observing November 25, as the International Day for elimination of violence against women. On 20 December, 1993, the General Assembly adopted the ‘Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women
November 25, has got its own story and significance. This date was taken in the memory of Mirabal sisters, political activists of the Dominican Republic, who were brutally assassinated on November 25, 1960, on the orders of the ruler of Dominican Republic, Rafael Trujillo.
The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women also launches the 16 Days of Activism and campaign against Gender Violence, which runs from November 25, through 10 December, Human Rights Day.
Image via Wikipedia
The Right to be free from violence has been recognized as a human right in several International human rights conventions and treaties.
According to Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development, “However, violence against women continues to be the reality of women’s lives even today. It is an endemic problem that knows no national boundaries, no cultural boundaries, no class or caste boundaries and no religious boundaries. Violence against women continues to be perpetrated by men, by women, by trans-national actors and by the state. It continues unabated in situations of armed conflict and in times of peace. It continues to takes place outside and inside the home.”
Throughout the world women are the victims of domestic violence, mental cruelty and rape.
In particular, the rape against women is on the increase in countries like US, South Africa and India.
In India, according to the National Crime Records Bureau, rape, the most heinous crime against women has increased by 73.3 % since 1971.Though India has the dubious distinction of the third highest number of rape cases, next only to US and South Africa, unfortunately only 20 % of the perpetrators of this crime against women are convicted.
The case of the rape victims is even more pathetic. As per the National Crime Records Bureau, 2007, among the rape victims, 57.7 % are in the age group of 18 to 30 and 9.5 % victims are in the age group of below 15.
It is needless to mention that 80 % of the persons or culprits who committed rape against women go Scot-free due to the antiquated criminal law, especially as against rape. The Indian Penal Code was enacted in the year 1860 and so the penal law is 150 years old. It has been a fertile source of income for the lawyer’s community.
Whenever the government comes forward with any radical change or amendments either in the civil or criminal laws, in particular in the Criminal Procedure Code, it has been stoutly opposed by the lawyers.
The judgments pronounced by the judges of the High Courts and Supreme Courts in India, that become the precedents for deciding the subsequent cases of rape are not helpful either, because they deliver judgments only on the basis of the existing laws that have a number of loopholes. Hence, they are actually helpful to the lawyers community to thrive and come up in their life, by acquitting 80 % rape convicts to go Scot-free. The net result is only about 20 % rape accused are convicted that too involving an inordinate delay. Recently, a rape victim at last got justice after languishing for a very long period of 20 years. Therefore, one can very well imagine the plight of most of the rape victims.
India needs more stringent laws to reduce the victims of rape and to convict more persons who commit the rape against women.
It is also our bounden duty on this day to eschew violence against women in any form besides spreading the message far and wide.
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Post Commentdrelayaraja
On November 25, 2009 at 1:19 pm
Good information…
ken bultman
On November 25, 2009 at 3:01 pm
Never heard of the day you mention but it’s a sorry state of affairs that one is needed.
Christine Ramsay
On November 25, 2009 at 3:06 pm
I heard on the news here in England that they will be introducing anti violence against women classes into the school curriculum in a couple of years in order to make young people more aware of the problem. It is a sad state that this sort of thing is needed. A very good write.
Christine
brianberu
On November 25, 2009 at 7:56 pm
Interesting article, with many valid points, anyone who knows me will know that I am a person who will go out of my way to avoid violence, and on very many occasion have been in the situation of peacemaker, but being a man I would like to point out that it is not only women who suffer, I lived with a woman who was great until she took a drink, and when she had she was violent towards me, well not just me but also anyone in the vicinity, but as I lived with her it was me in particular, as I mentioned I will go out of my way to avoid violence, this does not mean I am a weak, or meek person, as my main interest in life (outside family) was Judo, which I attained a high grade at, and the ethic of Judo is non violence, indeed the literal translation of yhe word is\”the gentle way\” so maybe we should raise awareness of violence against anyone, children in particular, but also women and men, very interesting article thanks for sharing
CA Johnson
On November 25, 2009 at 9:34 pm
This is very good, southgate. Violence against women and men is a terrible thing.
wonder
On November 26, 2009 at 4:50 am
A very good and informative article.
giftarist
On November 26, 2009 at 6:11 am
Thanks for this informative and interesting post!
cutedrishti8
On November 26, 2009 at 7:51 am
Thanks for this nice post…
chitragopi
On November 26, 2009 at 9:51 am
The information on victims of rape is disturbing. Good article to create awareness.
Ruby Hawk
On November 26, 2009 at 10:05 pm
Thanks for the post. I never heard of the designated day. My sister manages a home for abused women and children to hide until their cases are heard in court. It is a terrible crime against females. We all need to be aware.