“Halfway through the 2030 Agenda, we are far from achieving the target of eliminating violence against women and girls,” U.N. Deputy Secretary General Amina J. Mohammed said, referring to a 2008 U.N. campaign called UNITE by 2030 to end violence against women.
In a video message released ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, which also starts November 25, Mohammed said there is an urgent need for action.
"We must act now for a better and safer future for all women and girls and for everyone," Mohammed said.
U.N. Women executive director Sima Bahous attributed part of the increase in violence against women to conflicts, but she also referenced a report by the U.N. Office of Drugs and Crime that says five women or girls are killed every hour by a family member.
Bahous said such violence is a stain on humanity and must be stopped.
“The reality of the violence women and girls endure in conflicts extends to their home, also,” said Bahous. “Today’s report by UNODC and U.N. Women shows that more than five women or girls are killed every hour by someone in their family. And we are going backward: economic crisis, conflicts, and climate change all serve to add fuel to the fire,” she said.
Beyond the direct impact on the afflicted women, Bahou said gender-based violence also has economic implications on communities and stressed the need for more investment in ending the practice.
“It is also costly, with some countries estimating the economic impact as some 3.7% of GDP as a result of gender-based violence. Yet, investment is pitiful: a mere 0.2% of overall aid in 2022,” she said.
The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence ends on Human Rights Day on December 10.
Information for this report came from The Associated Press.
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