The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women will mark the launch of the UNiTE campaign (Nov 25- Dec 10) — an initiative of 16 days of activism concluding on the day that commemorates the International Human Rights Day (10 December).
We at AWLA call on citizens and governments at the local, National and international levels to show how much they care about ending violence against women and girls and call on governments worldwide to share how they are investing in gender-based violence prevention. Join the global movement with the #NoExcuse slogan calling for urgent investments to prevent violence against women and girls. Dig deeper into the campaign’s proposals –data, prevention, investments– and join the global movement with the #NoExcuse slogan to eliminate violence against women and girls

Eliminating Violence Against Women: A Critical Imperative

Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) persists as a pervasive, underreported issue due to impunity, stigma, and silence. VAWG encompasses:

– Intimate partner violence
– Sexual violence and harassment
– Human trafficking
– Female genital mutilation
– Child marriage

The 1993 UN Declaration defines VAWG as “any act of gender-based violence causing physical, sexual, or psychological harm.”

Consequences:

– Adverse psychological, sexual, and reproductive health impacts
– Educational disadvantages
– Limited labor market opportunities

Vulnerable Groups:

– Young girls and older women
– LGBTQI+ individuals
– Migrants, refugees, indigenous women, ethnic minorities
– Women with disabilities and HIV

Key Statistics:

– 5+ women/girls killed hourly by family members
– 1 in 3 women experience physical/sexual violence
– 86% of women/girls live without legal protections

Call to Action:

To achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and gender equality, eliminating VAWG is crucial.

Source:UN Women

AWLA Call:
Join the global movement with the #NoExcuse campaign calling for action to:

End impunity by advocating for and establishing laws and policies that hold perpetrators accountable.
Adopt, implement and fund National Action Plans to end violence against women and girls. These plans define policy and investment decisions that governments make.
Invest in solutions to prevent violence against women and girls.
#NoExcuse
#EndGenderBasedViolence

Mandy Asagba
President
African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA)