Violence against women and girls remains one of the most prevalent and pervasive human rights violations in the world. Despite many countries passing laws to combat violence against women, weak enforcement and discriminatory social norms remain significant problems. Globally, an estimated 736 million women — almost one in three — have been subjected to physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both, at least once in their life. The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign, which kicks off on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until 10 December, Human Rights Day, calls for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls. This year, the United Nations marks 16 Days under the theme UNiTE! Invest To Prevent Violence against Women & Girls. By using #NoExcuse as a slogan and hashtag, the campaign calls for financing different prevention strategies and transforming social norms to end violence against women and girls.  UN Women Türkiye’s #NoExcuse campaign underlines the importance of legal frameworks Aligned with the global campaign, UN Women Türkiye launches #NoExcuse campaign to emphasize that violence against women cannot be tolerated under any circumstances, anywhere, and any time. Throughout the 16 Days of Activism and beyond, #NoExcuse campaign underlines the importance of protective legal frameworks and calls for the effective implementation of laws to prevent violence against women. The campaign declares #NoExcuse for any forms of violence and violence against women is a human rights violation. “As we launch the #NoExcuse campaign, we affirm our commitment to build a world where there is no violence against women and girls. The campaign this year aims to raise public awareness about the current legislation in Turkiye, to call for its effective implementation and for its further strengthening, on the basis of the international standards and recommendations. Throughout the 16 Days of Activism and beyond, together with our partners from civil society and public institutions, we will show that when implemented well, laws can protect and transform lives. We will emphasize the importance of knowledge among women and society as a whole on how they can exercise their rights, and the need for a multi-stakeholder approach to effective implementation of policies and laws, in which public institutions and women’s civil society organizations work in close collaboration,” says Asya Varbanova, UN Women Türkiye Country Director. The Head of the EU Delegation to Türkiye, Ambassador Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut, welcomed the launch of 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence: “Eliminating violence against women and advancing women’s rights and gender equality is at the top of European Union’s agenda, both internally and in our partner countries.” UN Women Türkiye Launches #NoExcuse Campaign with an event in Ankara The #NoExcuse campaign will be launched with an event in partnership with the Delegation of the European Union to Türkiye on 24 November 2023 in Ankara. The event will bring together civil society organizations, government officials, diplomatic representatives, and the media to express solidarity and commitment to end all forms of violence against women and girls.  At the event representatives from civil society organizations and youth will take the stage to say “No Excuse” to any forms of violence. Women-led civil society organizations will not only express their manifests and commitment to ending violence against women but also share how they have played a pivotal role in transforming the lives of women survivors.  As part of the launch event, an art performance will be showcased in collaboration with the artist and lawyer Kutlay Evrensel (@kutlayus). The artwork, curated in real-time, aims to highlight the importance of legal frameworks using key terminology. Key facts from the world Globally, an estimated 736 million women have been subjected to physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both, at least once in their life. 1 in 3 women experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. In 2021, around 45,000 women and girls worldwide were killed by their intimate partners or other family members. This means that, on average, more than five women or girls are killed every hour by someone in their own family. Intimate partner violence is the most common form of violence against women, affecting women across diverse backgrounds and cultures. Less than 40 per cent of women who experience violence seek help of any sort. Violence against women not only causes immense physical harm but also leads to severe psychological and emotional trauma. A global study by the Economist Intelligence Unit found that 38 per cent of women have had personal experiences of online violence, and 85 per cent of women who spend time online have witnessed digital violence against other women. According to the Rapid Gender Assessment surveys (RGAs) on the socioeconomic impacts of COVID-19 conducted by UN Women in 58 countries, 45 per cent of women reported that they or a woman they know has experienced a form of VAW since COVID-19   Key facts from Türkiye: (2014 Research on Domestic Violence against Women in Turkey) 4 of 10 women are exposed to intimate partner physical or sexual violence Only 1 of 10 women exposed to violence apply to an institution for help; 3 of 10 women are married before they turn 18; 48 per cent of girls married by age 18 are exposed to physical violence; 11 per cent of women are prevented from working by their families; 90 per cent of human trafficking victims in Türkiye are women.   For media inquiries and further information, please contact: Ebru Demirel, ebru.demirel@unwomen.org    

GENEVA, 31 October 2023 – “From the earliest days of the unprecedented hostilities in the Gaza Strip, UNICEF has been forthright on the need for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, for the aid to flow and for children abducted to be released.  Like many others, we have pleaded for the killing of children to stop. “Our gravest fears about the reported numbers of children killed becoming dozens, then hundreds, and ultimately thousands were realized in just a fortnight. The numbers are appalling; reportedly more than 3,450 children killed; staggeringly this rises significantly every day.  “Gaza has become a graveyard for thousands of children. It’s a living hell for everyone else. “And yet the threats to children go beyond bombs and mortars.  I want to speak briefly on water and trauma.  “The more than one million children of Gaza also have a water crisis.  Gaza’s water production capacity is a mere 5 per cent of its usual daily output.  Child deaths – particularly infants - to dehydration are a growing threat.  “This is what one of my UNICEF colleagues, Nesma, who lives and works in Gaza said. She has two children, 4yr old Talia, and 7yr old Zain: It breaks my heart to see children around me strive for a cup of clean water and cannot find it. Zain keeps asking for regular water. “She means safe drinking water, not salty water which is the only option right now and is making 7yr old Zain and many other children sick.  “And then there is the trauma. When the fighting stops, the cost to children and their communities will be borne out for generations to come.  Before this latest escalation, more than 800,000 children in Gaza – three quarters of its entire child population – were identified as needing mental health and psychosocial support. That’s before this latest nightmare. “The same UNICEF colleague, Nesma, who spoke of her 7yr old desperately asking for clean water, explained the trauma her 4yr old is going through. Four year old Talia is showing severe symptoms of stress and fear, and is now self-harming, such as ripping her hair off and scratching her thighs until they bleed.  And yet as her mother explains: I don’t have the luxury to think about my children’s mental health. I keep telling myself, ‘Nesma, keep them alive.’ And when all of this ends, I will provide them with mental support and medical care. “And so we say again, on behalf of Talia and Zain, and the other 1.1m children in Gaza living through a nightmare: We need an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. And all access crossings into Gaza must be opened for the safe, sustained and unimpeded access of humanitarian aid, including water, food, medical supplies, and fuel. “And if there is no ceasefire, no water, no medicine, and no release of abducted children? Then we hurtle towards even greater horrors afflicting innocent children.”

Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women, welcomed the adoption of the resolution and stressed that “this milestone achievement reflects the collective recognition of the pivotal role that paid and unpaid care and domestic work play in ensuring the wellbeing of societies, strengthened economies and increased development. I hope that all Member States use this UN day of observance to raise awareness, improve policies, and scale up investments to transform the care economy and advance gender equality.” The resolution emphasizes the value of care work and recognizes care workers as essential workers. It promotes efforts to rectify unfair arrangements concerning paid and unpaid care and domestic work, and champions the creation of an enabling environment for women’s economic autonomy and the overall well-being of both care workers and the communities they serve. The resolution also acknowledges the pivotal role played by various stakeholders, including worker and employer organizations, women’s and community-based organizations, feminist groups, youth and religious organizations, and other relevant actors. Remarking on this achievement, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, stressed that “in marking the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, I called upon States to take concrete steps towards establishing support and care systems that are human rights-based, gender-responsive, disability-inclusive, and age-sensitive. Today, we celebrate the General Assembly’s establishment of the United Nations observance of the International Day of Care and Support. This international day shows the importance of building towards care and support systems that protect the rights of those providing and receiving care and support, and as a key lever to sustainable development.” Adopting this resolution marks a significant step towards promoting the rights of caregivers and care recipients. The resolution is also timely as it takes into consideration a global aging trend, recognizing the growing need for care work and support systems and the importance of investing in the care economy, including the development of robust, resilient, gender-responsive, disability-inclusive, and age-sensitive care and support systems.  Gilbert F. Houngbo, General-Director of the International Labour Organization, noted the resolution’s timeliness, stating that “The ILO wholeheartedly welcomes the establishment of the International Day of Care and Support on October 29th. It is a timely recognition of the indispensable role of those who provide care and support, in every country in the world. Without these care workers not only would our societies and economies suffer but our fundamental humanity would be diminished. So, let us use this occasion to reaffirm our commitment not only to inclusive and equitable access to quality care, but to decent work for care providers. In doing so we also serve our own best interests, by championing the fundamental principles of human dignity and social justice.” By recognizing the vital role of care and support and highlighting the need for investment in the care economy, Member States demonstrated their commitment to achieving gender equality and building inclusive and sustainable societies. The resolution sets the stage for increased awareness, improved policies, and collaborative efforts to promote gender equality, human development, and inclusive and sustainable growth.

New York — Despite global efforts, the world is falling short of achieving gender equality. This year's edition of the UN Women and UN DESA “Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals: The gender snapshot 2023”, launched today, paints a worrisome picture halfway through the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. “The gender snapshot 2023” warns that, if current trends continue, more than 340 million women and girls—an estimated 8 per cent of the world’s female population—will live in extreme poverty by 2030, and close to one in four will experience moderate or severe food insecurity. The gender gap in power and leadership positions remains entrenched, and, at the current rate of progress, the next generation of women will still spend on average 2.3 more hours per day on unpaid care and domestic work than men. The annual publication provides a comprehensive analysis of the current state of gender equality across all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and highlights prevailing trends, gaps, and recent setbacks on the journey towards achieving gender equality by 2030. This year’s report includes sex-disaggregated data on the intersections of gender and climate change for the first time, and projects that by mid-century, under a worst-case climate scenario, climate change may push up to 158.3 million more women and girls into poverty (16 million more than the total number of men and boys). Ms. Sarah Hendriks, UN Women Deputy Executive Director, ad interim, said: “In this critical midpoint moment for the SDGs, this year’s report is a resounding call to action. We must collectively and intentionally act now to course-correct for a world where every woman and girl has equal rights, opportunities, and representation. To achieve this, we need unwavering commitment, innovative solutions, and collaboration across all sectors and stakeholders.” With a special focus this year on older women, the report finds that older women face higher rates of poverty and violence than older men. In 28 of the 116 countries with data, fewer than half of older women have a pension; in 12 countries fewer than 10 per cent had access to a pension. Halfway to 2030, progress on SDG 5—gender equality—is clearly way off track. The report shows that the world is failing women and girls with a mere two Goal 5 indicators being “close to target” and no SDG 5 indicator at the “target met or almost met” level. “The gender snapshot 2023” underscores the urgent need for concrete efforts to accelerate progress towards gender equality by 2030, revealing that an additional USD 360 billion per year is needed to achieve gender equality and women’s empowerment across key global goals. The report also includes calls for an integrated and holistic approach, greater collaboration among stakeholders, sustained funding, and policy actions to address gender disparities and empower women and girls worldwide, concluding that failure to prioritize gender equality now could jeopardize the entire 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. “Gender equality is not just a goal within the 2030 Agenda,” said Maria-Francesca Spatolisano, Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Inter-Agency Affairs of UN DESA. “It is the very foundation of a fair society, and a goal upon which all other goals must stand. By breaking down the barriers that have hindered the full participation of women and girls in every aspect of society, we unleash the untapped potential that can drive progress and prosperity for all.” Further facts and figures highlighted in the report include: Under a worst-case climate scenario, food insecurity is projected to affect as many as 236 million more women and girls, compared to 131 million more men and boys, due to climate change. No country is within reach of eradicating intimate partner violence, and only 27 countries have comprehensive systems to track and make budgetary allocations for gender equality and women’s empowerment. The number of women and girls in conflict-affected contexts has risen significantly, with catastrophic consequences. In 2022, the number of women and girls living in such contexts reached 614 million, 50 per cent higher than the number in 2017. Globally, at current rates of progress, an estimated 110 million girls and young women will be out of school in 2030. The labour and earnings gap remains persistently high. For each dollar men earn in labour income globally, women earn only 51 cents. Only 61.4 per cent of prime working age women are in the labour force, compared to 90 per cent of prime working age men. Access the report. See also: Global gender equality in 2023: Urgent efforts needed to reach 2030 goals The 11 biggest hurdles for women’s equality by 2030