Women during a protest on the commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, in Nantes, France, on November 25, 2019. (Photo: Estelle Ruiz/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Nov 25, 2019
With mass demonstrations and other public actions, women and their male allies around the world on Monday marked the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and kicked off a two-week campaign demanding gender equality across the world.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a show of solidarity with survivors and women's rights defenders against some of "the world's most horrific human rights violations," which affect one in three women around the world.
"Sexual violence against women and girls is rooted in centuries of male domination," Guterres said. "Let us not forget that the gender inequalities that fuel rape culture are essentially a question of power imbalances... I call on governments, the private sector, civil society, and people everywhere to take a firm stand against sexual violence and misogyny."
\u201cViolence & abuse against women are among the world\u2019s most horrific human rights violations, affecting 1 in every 3 women in the world.\n\nWe must take a firm stand against sexual violence.\n\nWe must show greater solidarity with survivors, advocates & women\u2019s rights defenders.\u201d— Ant\u00f3nio Guterres (@Ant\u00f3nio Guterres) 1574649600
Monday's demonstrations and rallies began more than two weeks of public actions to spread awareness and express support for survivors of gender-based violence, culminating Dec. 10 with International Human Rights Day.
Landmarks and public buildings around the world Monday night were lit up and decked with orange decorations as part of the U.N.'s "Orange the World" campaign.
\u201cA big thank you to the #EU institutions for lighting up your headquarters yesterday to support the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, #orangetheworld and the #16Days of activism! @eu_eeas @EU_Commission @Europarl_EN @EUCouncil #GenerationEquality\u201d— UN Women in Brussels (@UN Women in Brussels) 1574781190
As part of the global effort, the International Labor Organization (ILO) called for ratification of its new Convention, adopted in June, to recognize the right of all people to be free from harassment and violence in their workplaces.
"This commitment now needs to be turned into concrete, practical action," the ILO wrote. "Violence and harassment in the world of work has enormous human, social and economic costs. Violence and harassment constitutes one of the greatest threats to decent work. No more excuses. Let's work together and make the promise of Convention No. 190 a reality for all."
Women and men alike marched in France, Spain, Uganda, and other countries on Monday to demand that their elected officials work to end violence against women.
\u201cInternational Day 4 the Elimination of Violence Against Women\n\nLaunch of the #16Days of activism against @GBV in Mauritania\ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\uddf7\n\n@unfpamauritania Rep @kabore10451367 march 4 #OrangeTheWorld & say no\u26d4to violence against Women\n\n#GenerationEquality \n#0GBVandHarmfulPractices\n#ICPD25\u201d— UNFPA MAURITANIA (@UNFPA MAURITANIA) 1574705391
\u201cWe move! \ud83e\udd41\ud83e\udd41\ud83e\udd41\n\nAmbassador of @NLinUganda joins us @Moglsd_UG in the March to the Launch of 16 Days Of Activism showing the Netherlands commitment to Ending Violence Against Women and Girls in Uganda! \ud83d\udcaa\ud83c\udffd @GlobalSpotlight #16DoAUg #orangetheworld\u00a0 #GenerationEquality\u201d— UN Women Uganda (@UN Women Uganda) 1574663460
In Spain, tens of thousands of people marched to recognize the day. But as the New York Times reported, the country's far-right Vox Party--which, though still a minority party, doubled its representation in Parliament in recent elections--used the opportunity to affirm its opposition to a law aimed at protecting women from gender-based violence.
Women gathered at City Hall in Madrid shouted, "This is shameful!" as Vox secretary-general Javier Ortega Smith spoke out against the law and called for national attention to men who are killed by their partners.
Around the world, about one in 20 men who are murdered are the victims of violence by their family members or partners, compared with one in two women who are murdered.
At the march in Madrid, demonstrators shouted, "Listen Vox, the victims have a voice!"
"We will not let the far right block gender-equality policies," Rosa Solbes of the feminist journalism collective Les Beatrius toldEl Pais.
Join Us: News for people demanding a better world
Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place. We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference. Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. Join with us today! |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
With mass demonstrations and other public actions, women and their male allies around the world on Monday marked the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and kicked off a two-week campaign demanding gender equality across the world.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a show of solidarity with survivors and women's rights defenders against some of "the world's most horrific human rights violations," which affect one in three women around the world.
"Sexual violence against women and girls is rooted in centuries of male domination," Guterres said. "Let us not forget that the gender inequalities that fuel rape culture are essentially a question of power imbalances... I call on governments, the private sector, civil society, and people everywhere to take a firm stand against sexual violence and misogyny."
\u201cViolence & abuse against women are among the world\u2019s most horrific human rights violations, affecting 1 in every 3 women in the world.\n\nWe must take a firm stand against sexual violence.\n\nWe must show greater solidarity with survivors, advocates & women\u2019s rights defenders.\u201d— Ant\u00f3nio Guterres (@Ant\u00f3nio Guterres) 1574649600
Monday's demonstrations and rallies began more than two weeks of public actions to spread awareness and express support for survivors of gender-based violence, culminating Dec. 10 with International Human Rights Day.
Landmarks and public buildings around the world Monday night were lit up and decked with orange decorations as part of the U.N.'s "Orange the World" campaign.
\u201cA big thank you to the #EU institutions for lighting up your headquarters yesterday to support the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, #orangetheworld and the #16Days of activism! @eu_eeas @EU_Commission @Europarl_EN @EUCouncil #GenerationEquality\u201d— UN Women in Brussels (@UN Women in Brussels) 1574781190
As part of the global effort, the International Labor Organization (ILO) called for ratification of its new Convention, adopted in June, to recognize the right of all people to be free from harassment and violence in their workplaces.
"This commitment now needs to be turned into concrete, practical action," the ILO wrote. "Violence and harassment in the world of work has enormous human, social and economic costs. Violence and harassment constitutes one of the greatest threats to decent work. No more excuses. Let's work together and make the promise of Convention No. 190 a reality for all."
Women and men alike marched in France, Spain, Uganda, and other countries on Monday to demand that their elected officials work to end violence against women.
\u201cInternational Day 4 the Elimination of Violence Against Women\n\nLaunch of the #16Days of activism against @GBV in Mauritania\ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\uddf7\n\n@unfpamauritania Rep @kabore10451367 march 4 #OrangeTheWorld & say no\u26d4to violence against Women\n\n#GenerationEquality \n#0GBVandHarmfulPractices\n#ICPD25\u201d— UNFPA MAURITANIA (@UNFPA MAURITANIA) 1574705391
\u201cWe move! \ud83e\udd41\ud83e\udd41\ud83e\udd41\n\nAmbassador of @NLinUganda joins us @Moglsd_UG in the March to the Launch of 16 Days Of Activism showing the Netherlands commitment to Ending Violence Against Women and Girls in Uganda! \ud83d\udcaa\ud83c\udffd @GlobalSpotlight #16DoAUg #orangetheworld\u00a0 #GenerationEquality\u201d— UN Women Uganda (@UN Women Uganda) 1574663460
In Spain, tens of thousands of people marched to recognize the day. But as the New York Times reported, the country's far-right Vox Party--which, though still a minority party, doubled its representation in Parliament in recent elections--used the opportunity to affirm its opposition to a law aimed at protecting women from gender-based violence.
Women gathered at City Hall in Madrid shouted, "This is shameful!" as Vox secretary-general Javier Ortega Smith spoke out against the law and called for national attention to men who are killed by their partners.
Around the world, about one in 20 men who are murdered are the victims of violence by their family members or partners, compared with one in two women who are murdered.
At the march in Madrid, demonstrators shouted, "Listen Vox, the victims have a voice!"
"We will not let the far right block gender-equality policies," Rosa Solbes of the feminist journalism collective Les Beatrius toldEl Pais.
With mass demonstrations and other public actions, women and their male allies around the world on Monday marked the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and kicked off a two-week campaign demanding gender equality across the world.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a show of solidarity with survivors and women's rights defenders against some of "the world's most horrific human rights violations," which affect one in three women around the world.
"Sexual violence against women and girls is rooted in centuries of male domination," Guterres said. "Let us not forget that the gender inequalities that fuel rape culture are essentially a question of power imbalances... I call on governments, the private sector, civil society, and people everywhere to take a firm stand against sexual violence and misogyny."
\u201cViolence & abuse against women are among the world\u2019s most horrific human rights violations, affecting 1 in every 3 women in the world.\n\nWe must take a firm stand against sexual violence.\n\nWe must show greater solidarity with survivors, advocates & women\u2019s rights defenders.\u201d— Ant\u00f3nio Guterres (@Ant\u00f3nio Guterres) 1574649600
Monday's demonstrations and rallies began more than two weeks of public actions to spread awareness and express support for survivors of gender-based violence, culminating Dec. 10 with International Human Rights Day.
Landmarks and public buildings around the world Monday night were lit up and decked with orange decorations as part of the U.N.'s "Orange the World" campaign.
\u201cA big thank you to the #EU institutions for lighting up your headquarters yesterday to support the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, #orangetheworld and the #16Days of activism! @eu_eeas @EU_Commission @Europarl_EN @EUCouncil #GenerationEquality\u201d— UN Women in Brussels (@UN Women in Brussels) 1574781190
As part of the global effort, the International Labor Organization (ILO) called for ratification of its new Convention, adopted in June, to recognize the right of all people to be free from harassment and violence in their workplaces.
"This commitment now needs to be turned into concrete, practical action," the ILO wrote. "Violence and harassment in the world of work has enormous human, social and economic costs. Violence and harassment constitutes one of the greatest threats to decent work. No more excuses. Let's work together and make the promise of Convention No. 190 a reality for all."
Women and men alike marched in France, Spain, Uganda, and other countries on Monday to demand that their elected officials work to end violence against women.
\u201cInternational Day 4 the Elimination of Violence Against Women\n\nLaunch of the #16Days of activism against @GBV in Mauritania\ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\uddf7\n\n@unfpamauritania Rep @kabore10451367 march 4 #OrangeTheWorld & say no\u26d4to violence against Women\n\n#GenerationEquality \n#0GBVandHarmfulPractices\n#ICPD25\u201d— UNFPA MAURITANIA (@UNFPA MAURITANIA) 1574705391
\u201cWe move! \ud83e\udd41\ud83e\udd41\ud83e\udd41\n\nAmbassador of @NLinUganda joins us @Moglsd_UG in the March to the Launch of 16 Days Of Activism showing the Netherlands commitment to Ending Violence Against Women and Girls in Uganda! \ud83d\udcaa\ud83c\udffd @GlobalSpotlight #16DoAUg #orangetheworld\u00a0 #GenerationEquality\u201d— UN Women Uganda (@UN Women Uganda) 1574663460
In Spain, tens of thousands of people marched to recognize the day. But as the New York Times reported, the country's far-right Vox Party--which, though still a minority party, doubled its representation in Parliament in recent elections--used the opportunity to affirm its opposition to a law aimed at protecting women from gender-based violence.
Women gathered at City Hall in Madrid shouted, "This is shameful!" as Vox secretary-general Javier Ortega Smith spoke out against the law and called for national attention to men who are killed by their partners.
Around the world, about one in 20 men who are murdered are the victims of violence by their family members or partners, compared with one in two women who are murdered.
At the march in Madrid, demonstrators shouted, "Listen Vox, the victims have a voice!"
"We will not let the far right block gender-equality policies," Rosa Solbes of the feminist journalism collective Les Beatrius toldEl Pais.
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.