Violence Against Women

April 10, 2021
Tags: Spotlight campaign, Zimbabwe, VAWG, violence against women, UN

Violence against women and girls (VAWG) is an age old problem. Globally, about 736 million women have been subjected to some form of violnce at least once in their life.

That means one out of every three women on the planet or 30 percent of women aged 15 and older.

Most violence against women is committed by husbands or intimate partners.

The United Nations defines violence against women as “any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual, or mental harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.”

Almost one in four girls aged 15 to 19 (24%) who have been in a relationship have experienced violence from an intimate partner or husband.

The United Nations found in a study that 137 women are killed by a member of their family every day. More than half by intimate partners or family members. More than one-third of the women intentionally killed in 2017 were killed by their current or former intimate partner.

Fixing this problem is going to take a constant effort by everyone from international organisations to governments, communities, and individuals.

The women and girls who experience this violence can end up with serious short and long-term physical, mental, sexual, and reproductive health problems. These experiences also affect children’s health and wellbeing. This violence leads to high social and economic costs for women, their families, and societies.

Image from a recent Spotlight campaign in Zimbabwe

The United Nations Spotlight Initiative works with governments, civil society organizations, the media, and other partners to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls by 2030. It is the world’s largest targeted effort to end all forms of violence against women and girls.

Gender violence is everyone’s problem and therefore we are all part of the solution. Offer help to those who might need it. Encourage them to talk, or talk on their behalf.