On 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet said, “As a young girl in Chile, I heard a common saying, quien te quiere te aporrea, or who loves you beats you. I recall a woman saying, ‘That’s just the way it is.’ Today, as societies become more just, democratic and egalitarian, there is growing awareness that violence against women is neither inevitable nor acceptable. Such violence is increasingly recognized and condemned for what it is: a human rights violation, a threat to democracy, peace and security, and a heavy burden on national economies.” Read Michelle Bachelet’s message for the 16 Days against Gender Violence.
What can you do right now to stop violence? Start by making your friends, community and government aware of the 16 Steps to End Violence against Women. Check out the new Call for Proposals announced by the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women, which supports critical programmes on the ground. If you missed the observance of the International Day and the 15th Anniversary of the UN Trust Fund, watch the archived webcast at http://j.mp/UNiTEyouthEvent.
