President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has by Proclamation declared Saturday, November 25, 2017, as “International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women,” and Sunday, December 10, “International Human Rights Day,” to be observed throughout the country as a Working Holidays.

The Liberian leader has requested the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Government Agencies, Civil Society Organizations and NGOs concern to execute appropriate programs befitting both occasions.

According to a Foreign Ministry release, the 2017 Campaign will be celebrated under the global theme: “Together We Can End Gender-Based Violence in Education,” and the national theme: “Let’s Embrace Our Diversities for Safe Education and A Violence Free Society.”

The Proclamation states that the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, being cognizant of the dates of International Day of Violence Against Women, International Human Rights Day, International Human Rights Defenders Day, World AIDS Day, International Day of Disable Persons and the Anniversary of the Montreal Massacre, agrees to jointly observe these occasions, through specially planned programs to further raise and strengthen the concepts being expressed for public consumption and participation.

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence is a global campaign dedicated to end Gender-Based Violence and will highlight other significant dates such as: November 25, International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women; November 29, International Women Human Rights Defenders Day; December 1, World AIDS Day; December 3, International Day of Disabled Persons; December 6, Anniversary of Montreal Massacre and December 10, International Human Rights Day.

The Proclamation states that gender inequality is prevalent and manifested by high levels of poverty, unemployment and illiteracy among youth, women and girls as well as high incidences of sexual and gender-based violence which, according to statistics, revealed that children are the most vulnerable in terms of these practices.

During the First Women’s Global Leadership Conference sponsored by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership (CWGL) in 1991, November 25, was set aside to be observed each year as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and December 10, International Human Rights Day, in recognition of violence against women as a human right violation and called on governments to work towards its elimination.