Observing November 25: International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

"The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble." – Psalm 9:9

Since 1981, activists for women's issues have marked November 25 as a day against violence, in commemoration of three sisters assassinated in 1960 in the Dominican Republic.

The United Nations began to mobilize on the issues in 1999, when the UN declared November 25 as an annual International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in 2012:

"Millions of women and girls around the world are assaulted, beaten, raped, mutilated or even murdered …We must fundamentally challenge the culture of discrimination that allows violence to continue…I call on all governments to make good on their pledges to end all forms of violence against women and girls in all parts of the world, and I urge all people to support this important goal."

What can we do to stop the violence? We can build our own awareness and that of others…explore and choose an issue…support an anti-violence effort! For starters:

• Use LPF's "Stopping Violence Against Women and Girls" guide. 
• See the ELCA's Justice for Women resource page with links on ending violence against women.
• Urge your Senator to vote for ratification of the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. The U.S. has signed but not ratified it, which means that the U.S. does not have to implement the Convention's provisions.

Look up the name of your elected officials here.

Let us stand together and do what we can to stop violence against women and girls!

-- Lily R. Wu, LPF Board Member

for the LPF Women's Initiative