Islanders to march for elimination of violence against women

Sunday 27 October 2024

Islanders are once again invited to join hundreds worldwide and march for the elimination of violence against women and girls next month.

Soroptimist International Jersey is marking ‘International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls’ on Saturday 23 November – two days before the internationally-recognised date, in order to make the march more accessible for those who work.

The occasion kickstarts the global '16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence', which ends on Human Rights Day on 10 December.

Freeda (formerly Jersey Women's Refuge), the Women's Institute, members of the Violence Against Women and Girls Taskforce, and many other sections of the local Government and community, have already committed to support the march through St Helier.

A statement from Soroptimists said: "Please add your voice and support to this important date."

Organisers said that more details about times and locations will follow in the coming weeks.

They said: "Despite the adoption of the Convention of the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women by the UN General Assembly in 1979, violence against women and girls remains a pervasive problem worldwide.

"Gender based violence is one of the most widespread, persistent and devastating human rights' violations in our world today, and is a threat to millions of girls and women online and offline.

"It affects women regardless of their age, background or level of education, and takes many forms, including physical, sexual or psychological violence, as well as economic abuse and exploitation."

Women's Rights Activists have observed the day against gender-based violence since 1981. The date was selected to honour the Mirabel sisters, three political activists from the Dominican Republic, who were murdered in 1960 for their stance on the rights of women and girls.

In 1993, the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women and in 2000, the General Assembly designated the 25th November as the official commemorative day.

The scale of violence against women and girls in Jersey was revealed last November in a taskforce report, which was the culmination of a year of research.

It made 77 recommendations, now accepted by Government, which taskforce chair Kate Wright said she hoped would set the island on the path to eliminating violence against women.