UN calls for 16 days of activism to stop violence against women

As gender-based violence gets worse globally, UN calls for 16 days of activism

What you probably already know: Monday was the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and every year the United Nations produces a report on femicide to mark the day. In 2023, one woman or girl was killed every 10 minutes by a partner or family member globally, and 60% of all femicides are committed by a family member or partner. It’s a horrific issue and it’s gotten worse in recent years. The report found that 85,000 women and girls were killed intentionally last year, and Africa had the highest rates of femicide followed by the Americas. It’s also likely many of these numbers are underreported.

Why? While 162 countries have laws against gender-based violence, many do little to enforce those laws. In 49 countries, for instance, there’s no law against domestic violence and in 112 countries there are no laws against marital rape. When a society normalizes early marriage, that often leads to higher rates of violence against women, according to the World Bank. Women who are married as children are more likely to justify violence against women and girls for doing everything from going out without their husband’s permission to burning the food.

What it means: One way to improve safety for women is to have more women making and upholding the laws. Currently, women occupy about 27% of parliamentary seats globally, up from 23% in 2016, according to the UN. There are six countries where women hold 50% or more of seats in parliament, and they might surprise you: Rwanda has 61% women, Cuba 56% and Nicaragua 54%. Andorra, Mexico, New Zealand and United Arab Emirates all have 50%.

What happens now? The UN has kicked off 16 days of activism to end violence against women and revitalize commitments for accountability by decision-makers, and is encouraging people to post support using the hashtag #NoExcuse and calling for an end to violence against women and girls. This is the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the most widely endorsed global agenda for women’s rights. The declaration outlined 12 areas in need of action, including violence against women, and affirmed women’s right to live a life free of violence.