No Gender-based Violence, Please!

November 25 is International Day for Elimination of Violence against women. This day is observed to mark the public awareness about the issue by UN agencies and NGOs worldwide.

Here is a UN initiative against International violence: A web site for A Life Free from Violence: It’s our right. Sadly no national organization from India is listed on organizations page in this web site. 😦

UN has also started an International campaign called 16 days of activism against gender violence from November 25 to December 10.

According to UN definition of violence against women, it not only includes physical, psychological, sexual abuse in the family, child sexual abuse (CSA) of female children, dowry deaths, rape, sexual harassment but also physical, psychological, sexual violence perpetrated or condoned by a state. Acts of violence against women also include forced sterilization and forced abortion, coercive/forced use of contraceptives, female infanticide and prenatal.

You might have guess which of the violence is on my mind. One that is overlooked or perpetrated by state. Recently a news spread like fire on each new site and also on blogosphere: Saudi court punishes a gang rape victim with 200 lashes!