International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
On 25 November 1960, the Mirabal sisters were brutally assassinated because of their identity as women and activists. Their only crime was having fought for their rights against the Dominican dictator, Rafael Trujillo (1930-1961). In 1993, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 48/104 for the Elimination of Violence Against Women which defines this type of violence as “any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual, or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.” Consequently, to solidify this decision, in 1999 the General Assembly proclaimed 25 November as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
"Violence against women must stop. On the international day dedicated to stopping this scourge, UNESCO is once again calling for unity and action, reminding us that each individual has a role to play in ensuring that gender-based violence is no longer tolerated. By fighting for women's rights, we are protecting human rights as a whole."
2023 Edition
On 25 November and for the 16 Days of Activism against GBV, UNESCO is lighting its globe in orange.
Interview with UNESCO's Director for Gender Equality
As we mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, join us for a thought-provoking live interview hosted by UNESCO with Begona Lasagabaster, UNESCO's Director for Gender Equality.
In this special session, we dive into real conversations about the challenges and progress in addressing gender-based violence around the world.
What UNESCO does on preventing violence against women
