This World AIDS Day, I call upon all stakeholders to accelerate their work towards meeting both Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 on gender equality and SDG 3 on health and well-being. The current rates of HIV infections among young women demonstrates how closely these two goals are are interlinked, and how pressing it is to achieve both. I further urge stakeholders to deliver on the commitments made to Generation Equality, specifically those made to the Action Coalition on Bodily Autonomy and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, and to invest in feminist and youth-led HIV movements.

On 29 November, the Action Coalition on Feminist Movements and Leadership, together with UN Women and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, held their first official commemoration of International Women Human Rights Defenders Day to centre the voices and experiences of women human rights defenders and call on the international community to provide them necessary public, political and financial support and protection.

This year’s theme for the International Day of Persons with Disabilities underlines the strong links between gender equality and disability inclusion. These issues are crosscutting and key to an equitable world. It is estimated that one in five women lives with a disability, among one billion people with disabilities. They are some of the most excluded in our society and are among the hardest hit in the current multiple global crises, including in terms of fatalities. These crises are deepening pre-existing inequalities, exposing the extent of exclusion, and highlighting the urgent need for work to address it comprehensively.

International Women Human Rights Defenders Day is an occasion to celebrate and thank those women and girls who tirelessly advocate for human rights, and people of all genders who defend women’s rights and rights related to gender equality. Around the world, women human rights defenders give of themselves to bring about a future in which all persons enjoy the dividends of equality and the fullest range of rights. 

Gender related killings (femicide/feminicide) are the most brutal and extreme manifestation of a continuum of violence against women and girls that takes many interconnected and overlapping forms. Defined as an intentional killing with a gender-related motivation, femicide may be driven by stereotyped gender roles, discrimination towards women and girls, unequal power relations between women and men, or harmful social norms. With the aim of galvanizing global action against this all too pervasive crime, in line with the vision of the Generation Equality Forum action coalitions, UNODC and UN Women have joined forces to produce the second edition of a report on gender-related killings of women and girls. Here are 5 key findings:

Joint statement by United Nations entities for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, 25 November 2022.

The Official UN Commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women will take place on Wednesday, 23 November 2022 from 10 am – 11.30 am (EST) at the ECOSOC Chamber, at the Unite Nations Headquarters in New York. 

A new study by UNODC and UN Women shows that, on average, more than five women or girls were killed every hour by someone in their own family in 2021. The report comes ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on November 25 and is a horrific reminder that violence against women and girls is one of the most pervasive human rights violations worldwide.

Mana Shooshtari is an Iranian American feminist activist and organizer whose work—spanning issues like immigration reform, gun violence prevention and sexual and reproductive health and rights—focuses on the protection and promotion of human rights. In the midst of widespread protests across Iran, she’s working to amplify the voices of Iranian feminists and to bring their women-led movement to the global stage.

Five years ago, the global #MeToo movement brought new urgency and visibility to the extent of violence against women and girls. Millions of survivors came forward to share their experience. They forced the world to recognise a reality that shames every one of us. Their courage and voice led to a powerful collective activism and a sea-change in awareness.

Salma*, 26, a Lebanese mother of 3 girls, was 13 years old when she eloped with her 16-year-old next door neighbor. Looking to escape her abusive stepmother, she thought marriage would offer her liberty. Instead, it opened a door to further abuse and violence.

The disastrous floods in Pakistan have proven, yet again, that our climate crisis disproportionately hurts women. Of the 33 million people affected, nearly 70 per cent have been women and children, according to the latest United Nations flash appeal. This is just one of the many accelerating, and devastating, climate impacts around the world.

Despite its pervasiveness, violence against women is preventable. This 16 Days, we’re highlighting the UN Women and partner programmes and initiatives making a difference in the lives of women and girls worldwide. These impact stories prove that a better future is not only possible—it’s already being built. Under the Spotlight Initiative, UN Women is working to train men as advocates for women’s rights and against gender-based violence.

Summary

Hrystyna Kit is a Ukrainian women right’s advocate, jurist and attorney. She is also the co-founder of the Ukrainian Women Lawyers Association JurFem, which focuses on increasing gender sensitivity within the legal community and Ukrainian legislation as well as improving survivors’ access to justice. As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues into its ninth month, she’s pushing forward against a rising tide of gender-based violence.  

Hanna Lemma is a women’s rights advocate and feminist researcher from Ethiopia. She is also the founder and director of Addis Powerhouse, a young women-led feminist knowledge production platform that conducts gender research and works to ensure young women’s meaningful representation in Ethiopian politics and society. In the wake of civil war, Hanna is fighting hard to prevent progress on women’s rights from becoming a casualty.

Malalay* is an Afghan activist working to support and restore the rights of women and girls affected by family and social violence in Afghanistan. Since the Taliban’s takeover last August, her work has gotten significantly more difficult—and more dangerous.

Fernanda Rotondo is an Argentinian feminist, LGBTIQ+ and human rights activist, and writer and photographer. She is also the Gender and Human Rights Coordinator for the organization ANDHES (Lawyers in Human Rights and Social Studies in the Argentinean Northeast). In the face of inconsistent national policies and protections, Fernanda is fighting to advance the human rights of Argentinians across the country and to ensure a violence free future for all.

Despite its pervasiveness, violence against women is preventable. This 16 Days, we’re highlighting the UN Women and partner programmes and initiatives making a difference in the lives of women and girls worldwide. These impact stories prove that a better future is not only possible—it’s already being built. UN Women’s strategy for change on gender data is Women Count. The programme seeks to bring about a radical shift in how gender statistics are used, created, and accessed. Women Count supports countries to improve the production and use of timely statistics to inform policies and programmes and effectively monitor the SDGs from a gender perspective.

Despite its pervasiveness, violence against women is preventable. This 16 Days, we’re highlighting the UN Women and partner programmes and initiatives making a difference in the lives of women and girls worldwide. These impact stories prove that a better future is not only possible—it’s already being built. The UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women (UN Trust Fund), established in 1996 and managed by UN Women on behalf of the UN system, is the only global grant-giving mechanism dedicated to eradicating all forms of violence against women and girls. Since its establishment, the UN Trust Fund has awarded USD 215 million to 646 initiatives in 140 countries and territories.