THE INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

WORLD ASSEMBLY OF YOUTH 

PRESS RELEASE

25TH NOVEMBER, 2011

THE INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

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Melaka, 25 November-  WAY commemorated this international day by hosting 25 women youth from the University Putra Malaysia, Faculty for Youth Development, and discussed on different youth issues mainly focusing on Violence and Gender Equality towards this important day. The discussion brought up the need for awareness on the basic Human Rights, because a lot of people especially youth failed to understand and acknowledge them. The youth thought these problems exist due to the lack of understanding and implementation of their rights, irrespective of their country, religion or political belief. The discussion went on for more than two hours and suggestions were provided that young people should be aware of this and many other international days and their role is important towards achieving a sustainable future. 

The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women came about after the vicious assassination of three political activists' sisters (the Mirabel Sisters) in the Dominican Republic in 1960. According to the UN statistics 70% of women suffer violence in their lifetime. The violence subjected to can be domestic violence, sexual abuse of girls at school, sexual harassment in the workplace, early or forced marriage, genital mutilation, sexual assault, rape as a weapon of war, to name the most common.

Nowadays, the chances of a woman aged between 15 and 44 years falling victim to domestic violence and rape is higher than the risk of getting HIV/AIDS, cancer, or being in an accident. Every community is susceptible to violation against women. It seems as if the global society has lost the perceived value and reverence for women hence being treated as objects of scorn where their rights are trampled upon.

In order to stop violence against women resolutions have to be reached. Men have to be appreciative of women figures in the society, perceiving them as fellow human beings like they are. They have to vow to observe gender equality. Women must also learn to accept and encourage one another regardless of skin color, social background or political stand as some are in the habit of discriminating other women. Parliaments should reiterate the commitment and determination to improve legislation on the prevention and punishment of violence against women, including domestic violence, and to monitor its enforcement.

WAY invites governments, international organizations and NGOs to partner and or organize activities in the near future designed to raise public awareness of the problem on this day. The youth at most should be at the heart of this activism. We also encourage those who are being threatened not to disclose their violation to legal authorities to voice out so that the law may be enforced. Governments should also increase institutions that offer counsel to those who have been violated before and are traumatized by it. Young men are encouraged commit to expunging violence against their counterparts.

To encourage and advise without partaking and practicing is like partially quenching out ravenous fire. In order to ascertain that we play our role, WAY is also part and puzzle of ending violence against women. We believe and encourage gender equality. We uphold integrity in promoting tolerance, understanding and solidarity amongst young men and women. We practice justice and equality in all our events, where no one is deemed better than the other, charted by human rights observance.

Wisdom will guide man to behold that though there is a way that seems right to every human being the end of it might either be destruction or goodness. Let everyone choose what is noble for the good of the society.

This meeting with the youth concluded  with a message that 'Ending violence against women starts with you and me today. Let us do the right thing. Love the women, appreciate them all.'

END

WORLD ASSEMBLY OF YOUTH

World Assembly of Youth (WAY) | World Youth Complex | Jalan Lebuh Ayer Keroh | 75450 Ayer Keroh|Melaka, MALAYSIA Tel: +606-2321781/2322711 | Fax: +606-2327271 | Email: office@way.org.my | Website: www.way.org.my