Making woman's right to a life free of violence a global reality

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Campaigning against Gender Based Violence:

Making every woman's right to a life free of violence a global reality

(Oslo, 25 November 2009) - On the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, Defend International joins its members and partners to promote every woman's right to a just and healthy life lived in freedom and without fear of violence or discrimination.

From 25 November to 10 December human rights groups worldwide will be celebrating the "16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence" Campaign, which is dedicated this year to the 10th anniversary of the United Nations' formal recognition of November 25th as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. The campaign theme this year is Commit - Act - Demand: We CAN End Violence against Women! In the framework of this Campaign, Defend International network members and partners will carry out various activities to urge governments in the MENA region to take action on the commitments they have made to ending armed violence, including domestic violence, against women.

"We encourage both men and women to work towards ending gender-based violence in the MENA region," said Defend International President Widad Akrawi. "We have a responsibility to protect women at risk of violence. Each individual action can make a difference, empower women and eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls throughout the world."

In Iran, Iraq, Syria and Ramallah, Defend International network members will underline the devastating consequences of conflict on women and children and demand that victims of gender-based violence will receive full justice, including the accountability of the perpetrator. Specific themes addressed include women human rights defenders (Syria, Turkey and Iran), the right of women to pass their nationality on to their children and husbands (Lebanon), and trafficking in women (Denmark, Iraq, Yemen). DI members across the MENA region will reach out to local authorities and communities in order to raise awareness against violence against women and girls.

10 years after the designation of 25 November as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the 16 Days of Activism Campaign aims to increase the visibility of violence against women as a human rights violation.

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Further information on activities carried out by Defend International Network members and partners during the 16 Days of Activism Campaign - See www.defendinternational.org

Background on the 16 Days of Activism Campaign

The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence is an international campaign originating in 1991, sponsored by the Center for Women?s Global Leadership.  The dates have been chosen to coincide with two internationally recognised days: November 25, International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and December 10, International Human Rights Day. The dates indicate the link between gender-based violence and human rights violation. The 16 Days of Activism Campaign calls for the elimination of all forms of violence and discrimination against women and girls by raising awareness about gender-based violence as a human right and public health issue.

For more information, see http://www.cwgl.rutgers.edu/16days/kit09/kit.html