President Sirleaf Declares November 25 As International Day For The Elimination Of Violence Against Women

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has by Proclamation declared Wednesday, November 25, 2015, through December 10, 2015, the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence to be observed throughout the Republic as Working Holidays.

The Proclamation calls on all government ministries and agencies, local and international organizations, the Children's Parliament, and the United Nations System as well as the general public to join the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, in collaboration with the Gender-based Violence Taskforce, women organizations and men's groups to plan and implement appropriate programs befitting the occasion.

 

A Foreign Ministry release quotes the Proclamation as saying that the Ministry of Gender being cognizant of the proximity of International Day of Violence Against Women, International Human Rights Day, International Human Right Defenders Day, World AIDS Day and International Day of Disabled Persons as well as  the Anniversary of the Montreal Massacre, will  jointly observe the above occasions, through a planned programs that would further raise and strengthen the concepts for public consumption and participation.

 

“The 16 Days Activism Against Gender Violence 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 the Montreal Massacre, and December 10, International Human Rights Day,” the Proclamation added.

 

According to the Proclamation, the 2015 Campaign against gender-based violence will be celebrated under the Global Theme: "From Peace in the Home to Peace in World-make Education Safe for All."  The event will also be observed under the national theme: “From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World; Safe Spaces and Education for All."

 

The release also added that gender inequality is prevalent and characterized by high levels of poverty, unemployment and illiteracy among youths, 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.

  

The Proclamation also stressed that during the First Women's Global Leadership Conference sponsored by the Center for Women's Global Leadership (CWGL) in 1991, the 25th Day of November was set aside to be observed each year as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and December 10, 2015, International Human Rights Day, which is also in recognition of the violence against women as a human rights violation and called on governments across the world to work  together in  eliminating the practice.