The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, celebrated every year on the 25th of November, marks an anniversary of a grave event: the horrific execution of the Dominican political activist Mirabel sisters ordered by the country’s ruler— dictator Rafael Trujillo. In honor of their valiant fight, this day calls for an end to gender-based violence, which has been officially classified by the United Nations as “any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual, or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.” In other words, gender based violence can include (but is not limited to) the following acts: rape, forced/child marriage, sexual harrassments/advances, battering, human trafficking, and more. 

Importance of the Day

Violence against women is one of the biggest issues in our world today, with reports showing that around one in three women have fallen victim to some degree of sexual violence. In 2023, a study done with 51,100 women reported that a woman was killed every ten minutes in that specific data set. Furthermore, many countries do not have adequate laws to protect women, with 37 countries worldwide protecting accused rapists from jail time if they marry or are married to their victim(s). 49 countries in the world currently do not have any laws concerning domestic violence. 

Due to the stigma surrounding gender-based violence, most women fear to report their stories. Gender-based violence can affect any woman at any point of her life, however, the following people are statistically at greater risk: indigenous people, immigrants/migrants, a person from the LGBTQ+ community, someone with disabilities, or anyone in a vulnerable position/crisis. Violence against women is a violation of women’s/human rights, peace, and equality. This day aims to acknowledge the brutal scale of this issue and remove the silence around it. 

Theme of the Day: Digital Abuse

This year’s theme is “UNiTE to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls”. The theme runs for sixteen days under the 16 Days of Activism to End Gender-Based Violence from the 25th of November to the 10th of December 2025. In this digital age, digital abuse and harassment has become increasingly prevalent. Some examples include: non-consensual leaking of private photos/doxxing, AI-generated deepfakes, online grooming, catfishing, cyberbullying, etc. Digital violence, too, can affect any woman, but the following women are at a greater risk: journalists, political activists/human rights defenders, or any racially diverse women, women with disabilities, or those with different sexual or gender orientations. To date, there is a low amount of support systems for victims of digital abuse, and a lack of legal recognition or regulation. The 2025 UNiTE theme draws attention towards governments (to create/enforce laws that recognize digital violence), tech companies (to focus on their platform’s security), donors and individuals to support survivors.

UNESCO BMW’s Involvement 

UNESCO BMW has always been involved greatly in advocating for the rights of women and girls. Our organization is that of a diverse one, and we encourage the joining of people of any gender or sexual orientation, race, age, and more. Through our newsletters and articles, we hope to raise awareness to these highly stigmatized gender issues. Our organization often hosts meditation/mental health wellness sessions and spiritual workshops in hopes of creating a united and peaceful society. Our mission emphasizes our belief in a just world, where the survivors of the  horrors of domestic abuse are protected. By offering activities targeting mental and spiritual well-being, we hope to create a space where individuals can join together, observe, and raise awareness on this important day.

By: Vallerie Kalekar

Sources: