Remember: Wear orange this Nov 25

THIS Friday, November 25, is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and from then to December 10 — Human Rights Day — a 16 days of activism against gender-based violence (GBV) campaign is being encouraged to garner support to end violence against women and girls around the world.

During this time, people are being asked to wear orange to show their solidarity in the fight against GBV.

According to UN Women, one of the major challenges to efforts to prevent and end violence against women and girls worldwide is substantial funding shortfall. As a result, resources for initiatives to prevent and end violence against women and girls are severely lacking. Frameworks such as the Sustainable Development Goals, which include a specific target on ending violence against women and girls, offer huge promise, but must be adequately funded in order to bring real and significant changes in the lives of women and girls.

As such, the UN Secretary General’s campaign UNiTE to End Violence against Women’s call for the 16 Days of Activism against GBV in 2016 is ‘Orange the World: Raise Money to End Violence against Women and Girls’.

Note that:

1.Violence against women is a human rights violation.

2. Violence against women is a consequence of discrimination against women in law and also in practice, and of persisting inequalities between men and women.

3. Violence against women impacts on and impedes progress in many areas, including poverty eradication, combating HIV/AIDS and peace and security.

4. Violence against women and girls is not inevitable. Prevention is possible and essential.

5. Violence against women continues to be a global problem.