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International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women |25 November 2014

‘Violence against women and girls can and must be stopped’
 
“Around the world 35% of women and girls experience some form of physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. Many suspect the real, unreported figure to be much higher. This is the shocking truth we face today, on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

“From today until Human Rights Day on December 10, the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence campaign is a time to galvanise action to end violence against women and girls around the world.

“The UK has been in the vanguard of international calls for an end to gender- based violence. Earlier this year, London hosted two ground-breaking international summits directly targeted at this issue. In June the UK’s Foreign Secretary co-chaired the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict, the largest gathering ever on the subject, which brought together 1,700 delegates, 123 country delegations and 79 ministers (including Seychelles). The summit agreed practical steps to tackle impunity for the use of rape as a weapon of war, and to begin to change global attitudes to these crimes.

“In July the UK hosted the first Girl Summit, aimed at mobilising domestic and international efforts to end female genital mutilation (FGM) and child, early and forced marriage (CEFM) within a generation.

“The good news is that things are changing. In the heart of communities and families in the UK and across Africa, South Asia, the Middle East and Europe, more and more people are saying no to these practices.

“Here in Seychelles we are, happily, free from FGM and child, early and forced marriage – abuses which have, respectively, blighted the lives of an estimated 130 million and 700 million women and girls in other less fortunate countries.

“But we know very well that we are far from immune from other forms of gender-based violence here. We read, almost daily in the press, of arrests and prosecutions for offences against women and girls. And we know from experience, that the number of cases which are successfully prosecuted are no more than the tip of the iceberg, and that the vast, vast majority remain unreported and unpunished.

“That is why we are proud to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The British high commission will be sponsoring both this and a series of other key events during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence campaign which follows. This is so that those of us who can speak out do so, and also to inspire those who feel voiceless.

“Violence against women is a consequence of persisting inequalities between men and women. Violence against women impacts on, and impedes, progress in poverty eradication, combating HIV/Aids, and peace and security. But violence against women and girls is not inevitable. Neither is it cultural. It can and must be stopped. And be stopped from both the grass roots up, and backed by the clear political will of each government from the top.

“The United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon says: “I welcome the chorus of voices calling for an end to the violence that affects an estimated one in three women in her lifetime. I applaud leaders who are helping to enact and enforce laws and change mindsets. And I pay tribute to all those heroes around the world who help victims to heal and to become agents of change.”

“Let us strive to ensure that we can add our names to the list of those deemed heroes.”

Lindsay Skoll
British high commissioner

 

 

 

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