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Brighton ready for 16 days of activism
UN Women unveil 16-step policy agenda ahead of the 16 days of activism
Clare Kirkpatrick
WVoN co-editor
In anticipation of the 16 days of activism against violence against women starting on November 25, Michelle Bachelet, the executive director of UN Women has unveiled a 16-point plan to mobilise world leaders to take action.
These include: ratifying treaties and revising laws, providing universal access to emergency services for survivors of violence, mobilising communities through public education and advocacy, engaging men and boys and bringing perpetrators to justice.
Bachelet acknowledged in her speech yesterday that 125 countries now have laws that protect women’s equality and the UN now recognises sexual violence as a deliberate tactic in war.
But women continue to be subjected to violence:
- 602 million women live in countries where domestic violence is still not considered a crime
- Up to six in 10 women have suffered gender-based violence in their lives
- Over 60 million girls are child brides
- 100 – 140 million women and girls have experienced female genital mutilation
- More than 100 million girls are ‘missing’ due to pre-natal sex-selection
- More than 600,000 women and girls are trafficked every year, usually for sexual exploitation
Ms Bachelet emphasised that: “This failure does not stem from a lack of knowledge but rather a lack of investment and political will to meet women’s needs and protect their fundamental rights.
“It is time for governments to take responsibility. Let us move forward.”