25 November - International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women aims to raise awareness about the pervasive issue of women and girls violence worldwide. This date was chosen to honor the Mirabal sisters, political activists who were murdered in 1960 for their opposition to the Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo. Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1999. The day also marks the launch of the UNiTE campaign (Nov 25 - Dec 10) — an initiative of 16 days of activism concluding on the commemoration of the International Human Rights Day on 10 December (UN, 2024).

Violence against women and girls remains one of the most prevalent and pervasive human rights violations in the world. Globally, almost one in three women have been subjected to physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both, at least once in their life.

The solution lies in robust responses, holding perpetrators accountable, and accelerating action through well-resourced national strategies and increased funding to women’s rights movements.