Beirut, Lebanon
Wednesday, 25 November 2015
Thank you for welcoming me today to celebrate the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and launch of the 16 days of activism.
The rationale for this Call for Action is known to you all:
One of every three women in the world have experienced physical or sexual violence – mostly by an intimate partner
(In 2012) One in two women killed worldwide where killed by their partners or family.
In some countries, up to one third of adolescent girls report their first sexual experience as being forced
Poor girls are 2.5 times more likely to marry in childhood
700 million women were married before the age of 18. Two thirds of them, before 15.
Only 52% of countries have criminalized rape within marriage
As these reveal, violence against women and girls is and remains what some have described as a ‘global pandemic’.
Lebanon is no exception.
Whilst specific data for Lebanon is hard to obtain, an average of 100 people seek psychosocial, legal and medical services on a daily basis. Yet, most cases go unreported
Information available suggest that forced marriage – particularly of young girls - sexual assault, and rape are the main types of violence against women and girls being reported.
Child mothers, early married girls, unaccompanied girls and adolescents, women and girls with a disability and single heads of households are most at risk. This affects everyone (no nationality or confessional differences or areas)
Violence against women impacts on, and impedes, progress in many areas, including poverty eradication and peace and security.
And yet, it is not inevitable. Prevention is possible and essential. And this is what these 16 days Call for Action are about.
Today, the UN Secretary General will be speaking in NY about the subject and will focus on the theme of Prevention; He will be making a global call to galvanize efforts to limit the exposure of women and girls to violence.
Here in Lebanon, we have wanted to focus these 16 days on the subject of Empowerment and Accountability.
Empowerment, because we think that access to education, to opportunities and support to pursue these is these best and only way forward to protect women and girls from violence. I have brought with me 100 purple ribbons for you representing empowerment. I encourage you to wear them during these 16 days (or beyond) as a symbol of support to the Empowerment of Women and girls.
Accountability, because we also wanted to highlight that the role EVERYONE has – to ending violence: parents, teachers, members of the community, the state. No one should be a bystander. In the words of the Secretary General: “break the silence. When you witness violence against women and girls, do not sit back. Act”
I take the opportunity to praise the Ministry of Social Affairs for their support to our efforts in preventing violence and assisting survivors. Thousands of women and girls are benefiting from their assistance. I should also like to praise all the front line workers engaged in day to day prevention and response efforts: health care providers, social workers; as well as the very active civil society organizations engaged in a relentless battle to reform laws, sensitize the population and create a more protective environment for women and girls as well as provide services. The work that you are all doing is invaluable and, whilst often not visible - for obvious reasons – has nevertheless constituted a life-line for many women and girls.
Above all, I should like to praise the women who have the courage to come forward and break the silence. Their valor today may translate in greater safety for many women and girls in the future.
To them, I offer my full support and that of the entire UN systemin Lebanon.
I wish you a great 16 days of activities, awareness, solidarity and companionship.
Thank you
