Eradicating Violence Against Women

One in three women in the world suffers from physical or sexual violence, mainly by an intimate partner. Violence against women and girls is a violation of human rights, and immediate physical, sexual and mental consequences for women and girls can be devastating, including death.

Violence negatively affects the general well-being of women and prevents women from participating fully in society. This has an impact on their families, their community and the country as a whole. It has enormous costs, greater strains on health care for legal expenses and productivity losses.

At least 155 countries have adopted laws on domestic violence and 140 have sexual harassment legislation in the workplace (World Bank 2020). But challenges remain in the application of these laws, limiting women and girls’ access to security and justice. It is not done enough to prevent violence, and when it occurs, it often remains unpunished.

The right of a woman to live without violence is confirmed by international agreements such as the Convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women and the 1993 Declaration on the elimination of violence to the ‘regard for women.

Only 40% of women are looking for help from all kinds after having undergone violence, and we therefore argue and support women and girls access to quality, essential multisectoral services for their safety, protection and their recovery, in particular for those who already undergo several forms of discrimination.

We associate ourselves with governments, United Nations agencies, civil society organizations and other institutions to find ways to prevent violence against women and girls, focusing on early education, respectful relationships and working with men and boys. Prevention is always the most profitable long -term medium to stop violence.