Orange the World: Fund, Respond, Prevent, Collect!
1 in 3 women and girls experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, most frequently by an intimate partner. 1 in 2 women killed worldwide were killed by their partners or family. The numbers speak for themselves and the challenge on hand! Violence is not merely killing another, it is using a sharp word, make a gesture to brush away a person, create fear, violence is much more subtle. UN-designated November 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, in 1999. It is being observed to raise awareness about what women around the world are subjected to: rape, violence, including domestic. A Shadow Pandemic is growing during the COVID outbreak, an increase of all types of violence against women and girls, including domestic violence. More needs to be done to address this and find solutions.
Nothing good ever comes of violence.
Martin Luther
Hence the question, isn’t it silly that it still exists, then?
UN describes violence against women as: “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.”
Violence is not merely killing another. It is violence when we use a sharp word when we make a gesture to brush away a person when we obey because there is fear. […] violence is much more subtle.
1 in 3 women and girls experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, most frequently by an intimate partner. 1 in 2 women killed worldwide were killed by their partners or family.
The numbers speak for themselves and the challenge on hand!
It is reported that on November 25, 1960, three sisters (referred to as “The Butterflies”), Patria Mercedes Mirabal, María Argentina Minerva Mirabal and Antonia María Teresa Mirabal, were killed in the Dominican Republic. The reason: they fought hard to end dictatorship. The anniversary of the day is being observed as a day against violence, since 1981. UN-designated November 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, in 1999. It is being observed to raise awareness about what women around the world are subjected to: rape, violence, including domestic. More worryingly, the scale and true nature of the issue is often hidden. Like in previous years, this year’s International Day will mark the launch of 16 days of activism that will conclude on International Human Rights Day on December 10. The day also marks the observation of “White Ribbon Day” a movement to end male violence against women.
Yatra naryastu pujyante ramante tatra Devata,
Where Women are honoured, divinity blossoms there,
yatraitaastu na pujyante sarvaastatrafalaah kriyaah!
and wherever women are dishonoured, all action no matter how noble it may be remains unfruitful
Our scriptures depict the power of women, their importance and the reverence bestowed on them, but you see things drifting. Many parents name their daughters as Lakshmi and Saraswathi. It is the time to remind the girls that they are inspired by “Mahisharuramardhini” and to stand tall and fight for every right they deserve.
Though men account for a much higher number of homicides, women bare the greatest burden of intimate partner and/or family violence. A Shadow Pandemic is growing during the COVID outbreak, an increase of all types of violence against women and girls, including domestic violence. More needs to be done to address this and find solutions.
Sexual Violence against women and girls is rooted in centuries of male domination. Let us not forget that the gender inequalities that fuel rape culture are essentially a question of power imbalances.
António Guterres, UN Secretary-General
Toons: Anusha and Reema Jaiswal
Logs: Sneha Yadla and Sai Baba
