Pervasive Human Rights Violation: UN Chief Speaks About Violence Against Women

United Nations (UN) Chief Antonio Guterres spoke about women against women and said that a woman is killed every 11 minutes by a partner or family member.

The UN Chief described violence against women as the “most pervasive human rights violation in the world” and called on governments to implement national action plans to tackle the issue. Guterres called on governments to increase funding to women’s rights organisations and movements by 50 percent by 2026.

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UN Chief Antonio Guterres On Violence Against Women

Guterres made the remark ahead of International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, which is observed on November 25. He said, “Every 11 minutes, a woman or a girl is killed by an intimate partner or family member”.

He added that stresses, such as stress from the COVID-19 pandemic and economic hardship “inevitably lead to even more physical and verbal abuse”.

The UN Chief said that women and girls faced rampant online violence, ranging from misogynistic hate speech to sexual harassment. Guterres said that the violence was limiting “women’s and girls’ participation in all walks of life” and “denies their basic rights and freedoms”.

Guterres said that limiting women’s participation also blocks the equal economic recovery and sustainable growth required by the world.

UN Chief Guterres said that now was the time for transformative action that could end violence against women and girls. He added that to do the same, governments would need to design, fund, and implement national action plans.

Guterres emphasised the importance of involving grass-root level organisations and civil society groups at the decision-making stage. He also urged everybody to take a “stand and raise our voices in support of women’s rights” and declare that “we all are feminists”.

Guterres called on the governments to increase funding by 50 percent to women’s rights organisations by 2026. He noted that this year’s theme for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women is “Unite: Activism to End Violence Against Women and Girls”.

Referring to the theme, he also emphasised the importance of standing with activists who call for change and supporting survivors of violence.