Human trafficking and modern slavery are one of the world’s main examples of violence against women and girls - Photo:canva.com
The United Nations (UN) International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women is part of multi-year effort to prevent and eliminate violence against women. The UN is calling for increased global action to provide funding gaps, ensuring essential services, focus on prevention and collect data to improve life-saving support services. The UN reports that since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, all forms of violence against women and girls have intensified, particularly in the domestic setting. The International Day of Elimination of Violence Against Women launches sixteen days of activism to focus attention. The colour orange is displayed to “recall the need for a violent-free future.”
The UN states that violence against women and girls “is one of the most widespread, persistent and devastating human rights violations in our world today and remains largely unreported due to the impunity, silence, stigma and shame surrounding it.”
The Declaration affirms that “violence against women constitutes a violation of the rights and fundamental freedoms of women.” Violence against women and girls is an obstacle to the fulfillment of equality and human rights across all facets of life.
Columban missionary Fr Peter O’Neill is an active member of the Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans (ACRATH). Human trafficking and modern slavery occur globally, nationally and locally. ACRATH state “the majority of victim-survivors” are women and girls. Human trafficking and modern slavery are one of the world’s main examples of violence against women and girls. ACRATH state human trafficking and modern slavery is a $150 billion global industry. The sixteen days of global activism to eliminate violence against women and girls is embraced by ACRATH as an opportunity to get the message out that human trafficking and modern slavery happens everywhere, including here in Australia. ACRATH members are committed to making a difference. The focus of the ACRATH campaign is RESPECT, which “seeks to examine the rights of the victim-survivors and to place their human dignity at the forefront of our collective efforts.”
The Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women was issued by the United Nations Human Rights Office in a General Assembly in 1993. The Declaration includes acknowledgement that the adverse consequences of violence impact women and girls of all ages. Whilst gender-based violence can occur anywhere and to anyone, some women and girls are particularly more at risk. The Declaration affirms that “violence against women constitutes a violation of the rights and fundamental freedoms of women.” Violence against women and girls is an obstacle to the fulfillment of equality and human rights across all facets of life. The UN states more support is needed in Covid-19 responses to address these issues.
ACRATH have produced a range of resources that support everyone to act now to eradicate violence against women and girls. Posters for display in workplaces, parishes and community settings are based on the human face of human trafficking and modern slavery. “Orange the world: End Violence Against Women Now.”
Sr Caroline Vaitkunas RSM, Peace, Ecology and Justice Team member, Columban Mission Centre, Essendon.
