This archive report was first published on 28 November 2019.
The United Nations' 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual campaign that runs from November 25 to December 10, coinciding with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the International Human Rights Day.
As the world observes this year's campaign, it is essential to acknowledge the alarming rates of violence against women and girls. According to UN Women, as many as 70% of women globally are brutalized, with one in two women killed worldwide falling victim to intimate partners.
The campaign's history dates back to 2000, rooted in UN General Assembly Resolution 54/134 of February 7, 1993. The launch date of the annual campaign is a tribute to the Mirabal sisters of the Dominican Republic, who were assassinated on November 26, 1960, for opposing the Rafael Trujillo dictatorship.
The Mirabal sisters' story serves as a poignant reminder that women are not sex objects. Their assassination was precipitated by Minerva's rejection of Trujillo's sexual advances, highlighting the need for women to lead the crusade against gender-based violence.
As the world observes this year's campaign, it is crucial to press for the speedy disposal of all court cases affecting women, including the murder cases of Rongo University student Sharon Otieno, Moi University student Ivy Wangeci, and businesswoman Monica Kimani.
People of goodwill are demanding swift prosecution and disposal of GBV cases, and it is essential to revamp the Judiciary and the prosecutorial arms of the justice system to secure justice for all. No one is safe, and we are all vulnerable to sexual, physical, psychological, and economic violence.
