Today is White Ribbon Day, which represents the international day for the elimination of violence against women.
Women and men are encouraged to wear a symbolic white ribbon every November 25th. The 25th of November also acknowledges the beginning of the 16 Days of Activism to Stop Violence against Women which ends on Human Rights Day on December 10th.
The incidence of violence against women is difficult to accurately determine because so often it is hidden from sight and because so often the victims are afraid to speak out.
Although statistics on the prevalence of violence vary, the scale is tremendous, the scope is vast, and the consequences for individuals, families, communities, and countries are devastating. According to UN Country data, up to 70% of women will experience violence in their lifetime and an estimated one in three women worldwide has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime.
Domestic violence is a global problem. It is easy to associate high rates of domestic violence and sexual assault with women and girls in the developing world or regions torn by conflict. Yet in Australia the rates of violence against women remain unacceptably high, especially for those most vulnerable in our society.
In the developing world the threat of violence is acute. Of the 1.3 billion people living in extreme poverty worldwide, more than two-thirds of them are women and girls.
But despite the gravity of the statistics there is hope. In Parliament last week I met Phyu Phyu who spoke to a Parliamentary Group on Population and Development briefing.