INTERNATIONAL DAY TO STOP VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR 

ELIMINATION VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

www.jagranjosh.com - International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women is observed on 25 November 2013 across the world to raise awareness about violence against women. The theme for the year 2013 is: 'Unite to End Violence against Women'. This year, the UNITE Campaign is extending Orange Day to 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, starting from 25 November, International Day to End Violence Against Women, through 10 December, Human Rights Day. In 1999 the UN General Assembly designated 25 November as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The date of 25 November was chosen to commemorate the Mirabal sisters, three political activists Dominican ruler Rafael Trujillo (1930-1961) ordered brutally assassinate in 1960.

Why This International Day? • Violence against women is a human rights violation. • Violence against women is a consequence of discrimination against women, in law and also in practice, and of persisting inequalities between men and women. • Violence against women impacts on, and impedes, progress in many areas, including poverty eradication, combating HIV/AIDS, and peace and security. • Violence against women and girls is not inevitable. Prevention is possible and essential. • Violence against women continues to be a global pandemic. • Between 500000 to 2 million people are trafficked annually into situations including prostitution, forced labour, slavery or servitude, according to estimates. Women and girls account for about 80 per cent of the detected victims. • It is estimated that more than 130 million girls and women alive today have undergone FGM/C, mainly in Africa and some Middle Eastern countries.

Unfortunately every day more victims of male violence must be added. Many women are cruelly killed by men just for being women. It is said that up to 70 percent of women experience violence in their lifetime. Today the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, a necessary date to make a call for help to stop this social evil is celebrated. The international community did not explicitly recognize the alarming dimensions of violence against women worldwide until December 1993, when the General Assembly of the United Nations approved the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women. Until then most governments viewed violence against women as a private matter between individuals and not as a widespread problem that affects and seriously violates human rights and requires the intervention of the States as responsible for the protection, prevention, control, detection and punishment of all forms of gender-based violence. While Vedic culture teaches the true value of women as heads of households and as a representation of spirituality, the Goddess of Fortune and Motherhood, in many modern societies it is said that they try to achieve gender equality; however, we observe that the number of women killed and injured by their husbands or partners is steadily increasing.  (Editor's note).

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

When in a society one loses respect, tenderness and gratitude for the mothers, society is condemned to degradation. This is notable nowadays where they talk a lot about women's liberty, but where the woman is openly the symbol of instinctive exploitation among men. The patience that mothers have with their children, and their practical function of protecting the family and connecting them with Mother Earth, Mother Nature, is a great gift from her for everybody. ... Mothers are in general more religious, more honest; they do not act irresponsibly or get intoxicated, etc. The balance between men and women, the aspect of complementing each other with the blessings of the Vaisnavas, is what is fundamental in a sane family and society. All kinds of sentiments about men being superior to women, is born from a mind of competition and from an inferiority complex. It is really very far from Krishna consciousness.

Śrīla Bhakti Aloka Paramadvaiti Mahārāja :
"Mother’s Day every day"
From the Hotline chat 11th of May, 2003
http://www.vaisnavi.org/v2/articles/mothers_day_everyday.php
http://www.vedic-wisdom.org/

Published by dasavatara das - "Vedic Views on World News"
http://www.vedicviews-worldnews.blogspot.com.ar/