International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

25 November 2008 -- 

Today is "International Day to Stop Violence Against Women.".

In December 1999, the 54th session of the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 54/134 declaring November 25th the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. The origins of November 25th go back to 1960, when the three Mirabal sisters from the Dominican Republic were violently assassinated for their political activism. The sisters, known as the "Unforgettable Butterflies," became a symbol of the crisis of violence against women in Latin America. November 25th was the date chosen to commemorate their lives and promote global recognition of gender violence, and has been observed in Latin America since the 1980s.

Violence against women and girls is a problem of pandemic proportions. According to UNIFEM, at least one in three women in the world has suffered from violence; usually by someone known to her. In many societies, the legal system and community attitudes add to the trauma. 

Source: UNIFEM

The Soroptimists I/E are involved in a couple of projects. Here are some of the links: http://www.un.org/Depts/dhl/violence/ http://www.soroptimisteurope.org/Portals/0/Content/Documents/Newsroom/HRSW%204th%20Newsletter%202007_2008%20En.pdf http://www.femalesinfront.eu/default.asp?view=front〈=gb

This is an appeal to those who haven’t yet signed on to:

· Ask 3 people to visit

 SayNOtoViolence.org and add their names

· Include a link to SayNOtoViolence.org

as part of your e-mail signature

· Talk about the campaign in your blog

and in discussion forums

· Text SayNOtoViolence.org to everyone

on your mobile phone address book

· Get and use the Campaign Toolkit

Let’s make our voices heard loud and clear!

www.saynotoviolence.org