Orange the world

A staggering one in three women have experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime—a pandemic of global proportions. Unlike an illness, however, perpetrators and even entire societies choose to commit violence—and can choose to stop. Violence is not inevitable – it can be prevented. But it’s not as straightforward as eradicating a virus. And there is no one single reason for why it happens, according to UN agencies.
As such, prevention strategies must be holistic, with multiple interventions, in order to have long-lasting and permanent effects. Many sectors, actors and stakeholders need to be engaged. More evidence is emerging on what interventions work to prevent violence—from community mobilisation to change social norms, to comprehensive school interventions targeting staff and pupils, to economic empowerment and income supplements coupled with gender equality training.
‘Prevention’ is this year’s theme of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on Nov 25 and of the UNiTE to End Violence against Women Campaign’s 16 days’ call for action.
From November 25 to Human Rights Day on December 10, the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence aim to raise public awareness and mobilise people everywhere to bring about change.
This year, under the aegis the UN Secretary-General’s UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign, events are planned in more than 70 countries, including Bangladesh, throughout the 16 days to ‘orange the world’, using the colour designated by movement to symbolise a brighter future without violence.
Global events will include orange lighting of landmarks like Niagara Falls (Canada/USA), the ruins at Petra (Jordan), painting bus stops orange in Timor-Leste to orange flash mobs in Indonesia.
In Bangladesh, different rights and women’s groups will arrange signature campaigns, rallies, cultural shows, postering and spots on TV to highlight the 16 days of activism. The Weekend Independent takes a look at violence against women in the country and what’s being done to prevent it.

Orange the world

A staggering one in three women have experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetimea pandemic of global proportions. Unlike an illness, however, perpetrators and even entire societies choose to commit violenceand can choose to stop. Violence is not inevitable it can be prevented. But its not as straightforward as eradicating a virus. And there is no one single reason for why it happens, according to UN agencies. As such, prevention strategies must be holistic, with multiple interventions, in order to have long-lasting and permanent effects. Many sectors, actors and stakeholders need to be engaged. More evidence is emerging on what interventions work to prevent violencefrom community mobilisation to change social norms, to comprehensive school interventions targeting staff and pupils, to economic empowerment and income supplements coupled with gender equality training. Prevention is this years theme of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on Nov 25 and of the UNiTE to End Violence against Women Campaigns 16 days call for action. From November 25 to Human Rights Day on December 10, the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence aim to raise public awareness and mobilise people everywhere to bring about change. This year, under the aegis the UN Secretary-Generals UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign, events are planned in more than 70 countries, including Bangladesh, throughout the 16 days to orange the world, using the colour designated by movement to symbolise a brighter future without violence. Global events will include orange lighting of landmarks like Niagara Falls (Canada/USA), the ruins at Petra (Jordan), painting bus stops orange in Timor-Leste to orange flash mobs in Indonesia. In Bangladesh, different rights and womens groups will arrange signature campaigns, rallies, cultural shows, postering and spots on TV to highlight the 16 days of activism. The Weekend Independent takes a look at violence against women in the country and whats being done to prevent it.