Federation is supporting the 2023 UN Women Australia theme for 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, “Safe. Everywhere. Always.” It is a call to action to join together and commit to meaningful change because “The safety of women is not just a women’s issue; it affects us all”.
The annual, international 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign begins today, 25 November, which is International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until 10 December, Human Rights Day.
Gender-based violence can happen to anyone, anywhere, yet some women and girls are particularly vulnerable. One in three women have been subjected to violence at least once in their lifetime. The UN recognises the vulnerability of young girls and older women, women who identify as lesbian, bisexual, transgender or intersex, migrants and refugees, indigenous women and ethnic minorities, or women and girls living with HIV and disabilities, and those living through humanitarian crises such as conflict and war.
The UN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women was issued by the UN General Assembly in 1993. It defines violence against women 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.”
The Australian Government has now ratified the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention resolution on Violence and Harassment, or C190 for short, and it will enter into force in June 2024.This is the first international treaty to recognise the right of everyone to a world of work free from violence and harassment. The Convention represents an historic opportunity to shape a future of work based on dignity and respect for all. Governments that ratify C190 will be required to put in place the necessary laws and policy measures to prevent and address violence and harassment in the world of work.
16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence | UN Women – Headquarters