UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous delivers remarks at a meeting to mark the 25th anniversary of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, UN Headquarters on November 25, 2024 / HANDOUT
UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous has called for urgent action to end violence against women.
Bahous said one woman or girl is killed every 10 minutes by an intimate partner or family member.
She spoke during the 25th anniversary of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
“Across their lifetimes, one in three women suffers physical or sexual violence. This figure has remained unchanged for a decade this is unacceptable,” Bahous said.
She condemned violence in conflict zones, citing atrocities in Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine, where women and girls endure horrific abuses, including mass rape and displacement.
Her remarks also addressed the rise of technology-fueled violence, noting that online abuse disproportionately affects women in politics and younger girls, with many experiencing harassment as early as age 14.
Bahous commended national and global initiatives, such as the UN’s Spotlight Initiative, which aims to prevent violence for over 21 million women and girls by 2025.
“No country has yet eliminated violence against women. Ending it requires transformative action—greater investment, innovation, and unwavering political will,” she said.
“Change is coming because women are resilient, and our collective will is strong. We will not stop until women and girls everywhere live free from violence.”
This International Day is a reminder of the urgency to confront systemic violence and to advocate for policies and initiatives that uplift and protect women globally.
“ As the UN we seek to do our part and should not doubt for a moment that we will see a world free of violence for women and girls, for our children and theirs. And we will not stop until we have delivered the change women and girls demand, expect, and deserve,” Bahous stated.
