On 21 November, Dr Nata Menabde, EXD WHO at UN, took part in the UN commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, calling on all sectors to play their part. She outlined WHO’s Global Plan of Action on violence against women and girls, and stressed on the need for necessary resources to turn the plan into actions.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, opened the event, remarking that while “there is growing global recognition that violence against women and girls is a human rights violation, public health pandemic and serious obstacle to sustainable development, we must turn awareness into meaningful prevention and response”. H.E. Karel van Oosterom, Permanent Representative of the Netherlands Mission to the UN, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, EXD UN Women, and Aiturgan Djoldoshbekova, UN Trust Fund programme participant then delivered their remarks, all dressed in orange to symbolize a bright future for women and girls. A performance of the song “Hell No” by the Color Purple cast followed, as well as a panel discussion on sustainable financing for efforts to end violence against women and girls.
In her remarks from the floor, Dr Menabde spoke of the serious global health problem of violence against women which is reaching epidemic proportions, and the need for health systems to do more to prevent and address this issue. Highlighting WHO’s Global plan of action to strengthen the role of the health system in the context of a multi-sectoral response to address violence, she expressed that preventing violence against women and addressing its short and long term consequences will only be possible if we come together across sectors, and WHO is committed to playing its part in this fight.
Moderated by Juju Chang of ABC News, the event’s panel included UNICEF, UNFPA, UNDP, the World Bank and the Association of Women’s Rights in Development.