Join the call to end violence against women
26 November 2007 4:21 am

Many civil society organisations in Asia held events to promote the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 25 November. This is also the start of the global campaign of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence, which ends on 10 December, International Human Rights Day.
(Bangkok, 26 November 2007) 25 November is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Many civil society organisations in Asia held events to promote the message of the day and started the global campaign of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence, which ends on 10 December, International Human Rights Day.

According to the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), violence against women is a major cause of death and disability for women 15 to 44 years of age.¹ In Bangladesh for example, 403 women and girls became the victims of rape and 106 women and girls were attacked with acid or similar corrosive substances this year alone.

This report was presented by Odhikar, a FORUM-ASIA member in Bangladesh, during their event on the day to discuss about the situation of women in the country. Taskin Fahmina, Documentation Coordinator of the organisation, added that the recent cyclone Sidr has been devastating for women as well, leading them to be victims of trafficking and sexual abuse. ASM Nasiruddin Elan, Acting Director of Odhikar, pointed out that many women have no access to bring their cases to justice, even if there are laws for their rights.

In Sri Lanka, where 60% of women experience domestic violence,² the Centre for Women’s Development (CWD), the International Movement Against All forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR) and other organisations came together on 25 November to witness a tribunal: “Women Rise Against Violence”. The one-day forum gave voice to women affected by the civil war in the country, those displaced by the Indian Ocean Tsunami, and others.

Also on the same day UNIFEM launched their campaign, “Say NO to Violence against Women”. Visitors of the campaign’s website can sign onto a petition to encourage governments that “ending violence against women must be a top priority”. This initiative will run until 8 March 2008, International Women’s Day.

In Thailand, 12 civil society organisations will organise and facilitate an event on 27 November in Chiang Mai. The event includes talks by a freelance writer and representative from Thai Women & HIV/AIDS Task Force (TWAT), as well as poetry reading and music. According to the organisers, there were more than 14,000 documented cases of domestic abuse last year in Thailand.

The date of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women originates from the assassination of the three Mirabal sisters, political activists in the Dominican Republic.³

1 UNIFEM, Facts & Figures on Violence Against Women
2 Ministry of Child Development and Women's Empowerment of Sri Lanka (June 2006)
3 Dag Hammarskjold Library, International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women