| International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
United Nations
November 25, 2012
The United Nations General Assembly designated November 25th as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and invited governments, international organizations and NGOs to organize activities designated to raise public awareness and take action to prevent violence towards women. This date originates from the brutal assassination of the three Mirabal sisters in 1960 who were political activists in the Dominican Republic. Their assassination was committed on orders from the Dominican ruler Rafael Trujillo (1930-1961).
Women all over the world are inflicted by violence in various forms, including physical, sexual, economic, and psychological. The aftermath of such violence can be detrimental towards ones’ health, ones’ ability to be active in society, and can cause lifelong damages. A staggering 70 percent of women across the globe are, or have, suffered from some form of violence in their lifetime.
Such violence does not discriminate by culture, age, or region – it can happen anywhere, to anyone. Discrimination towards women is the root cause of such violence, and it is our responsibility to eradicate such prejudice and try to prevent further violence towards innocent women all over the world.
As stated by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon “We must unite. Violence against women cannot be tolerated in any form, in any context, in any circumstance, by any political leader or by any government”.
For more information, please visit the TDSB Gender Based Violence Prevention Website http://www.tdsb.on.ca/gbvp |
