Eliminating violence against women may seem far-fetched, but active participation on a large scale can be a strong catalyst to help achieve this goal. It requires coordinated action by feminist groups integrated with justice, good governance, health, financial and other sectors.
Global theme for 2022: UNITE! The purpose of activism to end violence against women and girls is to stand in solidarity with women’s rights activists and all to support feminist movements around the world to free this world from this heinous trend against women. have to collect.
Uniting and supporting strong, autonomous women’s rights organizations and feminist movements is the key to ending VAWG. You can also participate in the Unite campaign to end violence against women by wearing orange as a symbol of a bright future for women.
Less than 40 percent of women who experience violence seek help of any kind. They remain silent because of the stigma attached. We need to stand with them and share our voices to speak loud and clear against these injustices. If you know someone who may be a victim of abuse or harassment of any kind – report it. Challenge assumptions of traditional concepts of toxic masculinity. Create awareness against violence and donate to the cause. Join movements to attract policy makers to enact strong laws to implement preventive measures. Support women leadership in decision making.
Violence against women is perhaps the most shameful and widespread violation of human rights. It knows no boundaries of geography, culture or wealth. As long as this continues, we cannot claim to have made real progress towards equality, development and peace
Graça Machel, the former first lady of South Africa, is a strong advocate for ending gender-based violence (GBV).
During the pandemic, the claws of domestic violence gripped most women across the world.
In 2020 South Africa’s Commissioner of Police, Bheki Cele, confirmed that there was an increase in GBV cases during the country’s lockdown period. One resident, Cyril Ramaphosa, called it South Africa’s second pandemic.
Following this confirmation Mackel wrote in the Guardian: ‘A pandemic within a pandemic has been exposed and we are faced with the horrifying reality that millions of women and children in every country are fighting for their survival, not just COVID-19 Rather than the cruelty of misdemeanors in the prisons of their homes.’
The fight against the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
Is it not time that we also stand against this dreadful pandemic?
Let’s fight this virus of injustice and end violence against women and girls.
Take action now, before it’s too late.
Reference:
1. National Day Calendar, Celebrate every day.
2. In Focus: 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, UN Women, 18 November 2022
3. International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women 25 November, United Nations.
[Tasneem Hossain is a multilingual poet, columnist, op-ed and fiction writer, translator and
training consultant. She is the Director of Continuing Education Centre, Bangladesh.]