The UNITE to End Violence against Women campaign is a multiyear effort to prevent and end violence against women and girls around the world. This year it runs from 25 November to 10 December 2023.
This initiative, which was launched in 2008 under the leadership of the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, was created to support the ‘16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence’ campaign around the world.
The global theme of this year’s ‘16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence’ is 'UNITE! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls'. Managed by UN Women this campaign is calling on governments, civil society, women’s organisations, young people, the private sector, media, and the UN system to join forces to address the global pandemic of violence against women and girls.
“Violence against women and girls is a global human-rights crisis. Around the world, one in three women and girls are subjected to violence due to their gender. On average more than five women and girls globally are killed every hour by someone in their family. Here in the Thames Valley, we are proud of the many incredible organisations working to support victims and survivors of violence of against women and girls across our communities.
We stand in solidarity with them and in their call for their work to be properly funded and resourced so all women and girls can live lives of safety and so they can flourish.”
Councillor Shaista Aziz, Chair of the Thames Valley Police and Crime Panel’s Violence Against Women and Girls Task and Finish Group
Key facts on violence against women and girls:
- global estimates show that, on average, more than five women or girls are killed every hour by someone in their own family
- in 2021, one in five women aged 20-24 were married before turning 18
- one in three women have been subjected to violence at least once in their lifetime
- violence against women and girls remains the most widespread and pervasive human rights violation worldwide, a figure that has remained unchanged over the last decade
For more information about the prevalence of violence against women and girls, read the World Health Organization's report, 'Violence Against Women Prevalence Estimates, 2018'.
This news release is issued on behalf of the Thames Valley Police and Crime Panel.
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