25 November – 10 December 2023, ‘International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women’- Themes, Importance & History

Since 1981, the 25th of November to the 10th of December has been observed annually as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. This 16-day period of activism against gender-based violence raises public awareness of the detrimental effects of violence against women on individuals' health and society, and it also serves to reaffirm the commitment to collaboratively addressing this issue.

In observance of the 16 Days of Gender-Based Violence Activism, national and international governments, civil society organizations, the United Nations, and other partners organize events and educational programs on this day.

Themes From 2018-2022 of International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

The theme of this year's International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, 2023, is "Invest to Prevent Violence against Women & Girls," which highlights the importance of funding different prevention programs that stop violence before it starts.

2022 Theme: {UNITE! Activism to End Violence against Women and Girls}

2021 Theme: {Orange the World: End Violence against Women Now}

2020 Theme: {Orange the World: Fund, Respond, Prevent, Collect}

2019 Theme: [Orange the World - Generation Equality Stands Against Rape]

2018 Theme: {Orange the World: Hear Me Too}

The history:

First observed as a day of protest and awareness against violence against women in 1981, November 25th was declared such by organizers of the Latin American and Caribbean Feminist Encuentros (meetings) in Bogotá, Colombia. They selected this day to honor the sacrifice made by the Mirabal Sisters.
The General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women on December 20, 1993, by passing resolution (48/104). In order to facilitate the worldwide abolition of violence against women and girls, the solution was chosen.

The Importance & significance:

One of the most common human rights abuses in the world today is violence against women and girls. Violence against women and girls (VAWG) often goes unreported because of its stigma, impunity, silence, and shame surrounding it. Typically, violence manifests itself through sexual, physical, and psychological abuse, encompassing a variety of crimes such as:

• Sexual assault and harassment (including street harassment, stalking, cyber-harassment, forced marriage, child sexual abuse, forced sexual acts, and rape)
• Child marriage
• Human trafficking (sexual exploitation, slavery)
• Genital mutilation of women

Report Says that:

Approximately one in three women worldwide, or 7.36 crore, are victims of physical or sexual abuse at the hands of a partner or other person. Violence against women and girls has a lifelong negative effect on the psychological, sexual, and reproductive health of these individuals.

Any person, regardless of gender, age, or ethnicity, can be impacted by gender-based violence, but some groups of women and girls are more susceptible than others. Young girls and older women, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people, immigrants and refugees, native women and members of ethnic minorities, women and girls living with HIV and disabilities, and people going through humanitarian crises are some of these groups.
The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women is observed to highlight that violence against women and girls can be prevented and its detrimental effects lessened. Violence against women continues to be a significant obstacle to achieving equality, development, and peace as well as to upholding the human rights of women and girls.