WHO announces 16 Days of activism to end violence against women
Saima Wazed Highlights 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence
Saima Wazed, the Regional Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) for South-East Asia, emphasized the importance of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, which begins the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) from November 25 to December 10. This year's activism is significant due to the upcoming 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action on Women in 2025.
Wazed noted the need to assess progress and challenges in eliminating violence against women as part of the global review of the Beijing Declaration and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The 16 Days of Activism provide an opportunity to address gender-based violence in various settings, including private, public, work, and online spaces, especially in humanitarian emergencies.
Gender-based violence manifests in forms such as intimate partner violence, early marriage, workplace harassment, and digital violence, often increasing during conflicts and crises. These experiences have severe physical and mental health impacts on survivors, affecting their socio-economic development.
Efforts to combat GBV in the region include laws and support services like One Stop Centres and Helplines in countries such as India, Thailand, and Indonesia. However, challenges remain, with nearly one in three women experiencing violence in their lifetime. The WHO South-East Asia Region faces additional risks due to natural hazards and high gender inequality.
Wazed proposed a 4P approach to tackle violence against women: Promote investment in women and girls, Provide access by removing barriers, Protect through disease surveillance, and Perform by ensuring data availability. WHO's frameworks like RESPECT and INNOV8 support these efforts, alongside regional cooperation initiatives like Spotlight 2.0.
As the Beijing +30 Global Review approaches, Wazed calls for a collective effort to address GBV, emphasizing that empowered women and girls are crucial for resilient societies.
Doubts Revealed
Saima Wazed
Saima Wazed is a leader who works with the World Health Organization (WHO) in the South-East Asia region. She focuses on health and social issues, like helping people understand and fight against violence.
WHO
WHO stands for the World Health Organization. It is a global organization that works to improve health and well-being for people all around the world.
16 Days of Activism
The 16 Days of Activism is a campaign that happens every year to raise awareness about violence against women and girls. It starts on November 25 and lasts for 16 days, encouraging people to take action to stop this violence.
Gender-Based Violence
Gender-Based Violence is when someone is harmed because of their gender, like being a girl or a woman. It includes things like hitting, hurting, or treating someone unfairly just because they are female.
Beijing Declaration
The Beijing Declaration is an important agreement made by countries in 1995 to promote women's rights and equality. It aims to make the world a better place for women and girls by ensuring they have the same opportunities as men.
4P approach
The 4P approach stands for Promote, Provide, Protect, and Perform. It is a strategy to help stop violence against women by spreading awareness, offering support, ensuring safety, and taking action.
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *