Today begins the
16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.
In this
international campaign, we call for global action in the prevention and
elimination of violence against women and girls.
Twenty-five years
ago, the world took a significant step towards gender equality with the
adoption of The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
While 2020 is a
milestone year for this achievement, violence against women and girls remains one
of the most widespread violations of human rights.
The situation has worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We see an alarming
increase in domestic violence, as women and children are trapped at home.
School closures
and food insecurity elevate the risk of violence for girls, including sexual
exploitation and harassment.
Resources
allocated to provide support to survivors of gender-based violence have been
diverted to fight the COVID-19 health crisis.
Despite this,
women’s rights organizations and civil society have been on the forefront,
continuing to give vital assistance.
We must prioritize
their role as first responders and adequately fund programs like
shelters, counselling support and legal aid.
We should foster a
culture of zero tolerance with the involvement of men to prevent gender-based
violence.
We need to ensure
that essential services for survivors of violence against women and girls
remain open and respond to these acts with the full force of law.
And we will
improve the provision of gender-based violence services and collect data
to make sure the experience is survivor-centred.
We all have a role
to play.
I call on the
people of China, from the government to the individual, to come together and
join us in the next sixteen days.
Take action.
Let’s end
gender-based violence, once and for all.
