NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 25 – “No means no. We don’t need many words to express Italy’s strong commitment at the United Nations and elsewhere to eradicate violence against women”, the Italian Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Maurizio Massari, said on the International Day which is celebrated every 25 of November after being established in 1999 by the General Assembly.
As in past years Italy, along with the other members of the European Union, is joining the 93 members of the UN Group of Friends for the Elimination of Violence against Women & Girls in the campaign OrangeTheWorld: 16 days of activism to stand against gender-based violence in all its forms under the global theme set by the UN Secretary-General’s UNiTE campaign: “Orange the World: End Violence against Women Now!”.
Nearly 1 in 3 women have been abused in their lifetime. In times of crises, the numbers rise, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic and recent humanitarian crises, conflicts and climate disasters. A new report from UN Women, based on data from 13 countries since the pandemic, shows that 2 in 3 women reported that they or a woman they know experienced some form of violence and are more likely to face food insecurity. Only 1 in 10 women said that victims would go to the police for help.
While pervasive, gender-based violence is not inevitable. It can and must be prevented, the organizer of the campaign said: “Stopping this violence starts with believing survivors, adopting comprehensive and inclusive approaches that tackle the root causes, transform harmful social norms, and empower women and girls. With survivor-centred essential services across policing, justice, health, and social sectors, and sufficient financing for the women’s rights agenda, we can end gender-based violence”. (@OnuItalia)
