By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Reporter
EVERY 11 MINUTES, a woman is murdered. Every eight minutes, a girl endures female genital mutilation. Every three seconds, a girl is forced into marriage before she turns 18.
These harrowing statistics, released by UN Women, underline the staggering reality of violence against women and girls globally.
As the world observes the 25th anniversary of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the scale of harm inflicted remains staggering according to the United Nations women arm.
This day also marks the start of the United Nations’ 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign.
In conflict zones such as Sudan, Ukraine, Gaza, and Haiti, women bear the brunt of violence, with the proportion of women killed in armed conflicts doubling from 20% in 2022 to 40% in 2023.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) says it has responded by allocating more of its humanitarian budget to protecting women and children, while also advancing initiatives like Safe from the Start ReVisioned, ensuring preventative measures and support for survivors.
The agency noted that in parallel, technology poses emerging threats, amplifying abuse through digital platforms.
In response, the United States (U.S.) also launched the Women Leading Effective and Accountable Democracy in the Digital Age (Women LEAD) initiative, raising $900 million to tackle these challenges.
Yet, as violence escalates amidst global crises, diverse activists urge nations to act decisively to safeguard women’s right to safety and dignity.
