The United Nations General Assembly in December 1999 designated 25 November the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The aim is for governments, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations to organize activities designed to raise public awareness on the issue. Gender-based violence is one of the most widespread human rights violations. While governments, scientists, and the global community continue to focus resources on fighting the coronavirus pandemic, a more subtle but equally devastating phenomenon is also raging against half the world’s population. The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, described this as the “shadow pandemic” in his message to governments in April this year. Many governments’ lockdown measures to contain the coronavirus spread resulted in the escalation of gender-based violence. Most regions of the world reported a spike in gender-based violence and domestic violence during the peak of the lockdowns earlier in the year.
The UN Women organized a virtual event on 25 November to commemorate the International Day. In his remarks at the event, the Secretary-General stressed that violence against women and girls is a global emergency that requires urgent actions at all levels, in all spaces, and by all people. He reiterated his call early in the year when he urged the international community to strive to end the “shadow pandemic” of gender-based violence. On several occasions, Mr. Guterres has maintained that “not until the half of our population represented by women and girls can live free from fear, violence, and everyday insecurity can we truly say we live in a fair and equal world.” That most gender-based violence happens in the home is an aberration because everyone has the right to feel safe, especially in their homes.
Read more:
Ten ways you can help end violence against women, even during a pandemic; https://bit.ly/3fv6oMf
16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign to galvanize action to end violence against women and girls.
Synthesis of Evidence on the Collection and Use of Administrative Data on Violence o Against Women: https://bit.ly/3pOx1jW
ILO 190 Convention: Convention Concerning the Elimination of Violence and Harassment in the World of Work: https://bit.ly/2HAdHWb
Commemoration of the International Day of Eliminating Violence against Women (25 November) https://bit.ly/33kgRVE
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By Rose Ndianefo, SNDdeN: Notre Dame Medical Center in Amoyo, Nigeria, provides antenatal care and delivery and child welfare services, including the following: counseling on the benefit of exclusive breast feeding; education on proper nutrition for pregnant women and children under the age of five; nutritional supplements for pregnant women and children; health education on malaria and Hepatitis B prevention, tests, and immunization program for infants; vaccination of children and adults against Hepatitis B and meningitis; treatment for diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, urinary tract infection, malaria, typhoid fever, and many more as the situation arises. Staffed by doctors, nurses, midwives, Community Health Extension Workers, and laboratory technicians, the Center serves about 230 women, 200 infants and children under the age of five, and 350 teenagers and adults, including orphaned and vulnerable children.
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