International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, 25th November, will call for urgent actions to Fund, Respond, Prevent and Collect data to address gender-based violence in the context of COVID-19.

The UN Secretary-General’s UNiTE Campaign to End Violence against Women, will commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 25 November. The International Day and virtual event will kickstart the global mobilization of the 16 Days of Activism campaign -running from 25 November until 10 December-, under the theme: “Orange the World: Fund, Respond, Prevent, Collect!”.

Even before COVID-19, violence against women was one of the most widespread violations of human rights, with almost 18 percent of women and girls experiencing physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner within the last year. During COVID-19, calls to violence against women helplines increased up to fivefold in the first few weeks of the pandemic. For every 3 months the lockdown continues, an additional 15 million women are expected to be affected by violence. 

The commemoration will be an opportunity for Member States, Civil Society, influencers and the UN System to spark a renewed sense of urgency and bolster global action to end violence against women and girls by calling on all to fund essential services on gender-based violence and women’s organizations who are at the forefront; to respond to the needs of survivors, including during the global pandemic, prevent gender-based violence from happening in the first place by challenging cultural and social norms, mobilization campaigns and a zero-tolerance policy; and to collect data to improve services, programmes and policies. In the lead up to the commemoration, UN Women has appealed to Member States to make concrete, tangible commitments during the 16 Days of Activism.