Violence against women still common - Thoraya

25 November 2007
Report: Ayya

Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, Executive Director of UNFPA, United Nations Fund for Populations Activities, has said that violence against women is still ongoing in spite of the many on going campaigns held for the elimination of such acts.

She made the statement in a message given on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. She said the right to live free of violence and discrimination is the right of every human being. Yet, as we commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, this right is being violated on a massive and systematic scale. Violence against women continues in every part of the world and it limits social and economic progress and harms families and communities.

She paid tribute to women and men in every country who are bringing these issues to the forefront and demanding justice and expressed her appreciation to those who have established program for women and girls affected by violence.

Thoraya also said UNFPA acknowledged the governments and parliaments that are taking action. In every region, laws are in place to address violence against women and we urge those responsible to ensure their implementation.

Thoraya further called on all governments and parliaments that have not yet done so to adopt laws and establish programs to address violence against women. She also all concerned to work together to raise awareness that violence against women and girls is unacceptable.

Executive Director of UNFPA said “Our collective success in achieving peace and security and making poverty history depends on our ability to end discrimination and violence against women and girls”.