International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

By Grace Carballo ‘17

Today, November 25, is International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, an international recognition of the violence against women that is not confined to a specific region, country, religion, culture, or societal standing.

The root of this violence is in the persistent discrimination women face. It is undeniably a human rights violation and continues to be a global epidemic with lasting consequences.

The UN’s Campaign “Orange the World” hopes to both bring awareness of this epidemic and represent how much brighter the future would be without violence against women.

The following statistics are upsetting and eye-opening, but ignoring this pervasive injustice won’t make it go away.

One of our every five women will become a victim of sexual violation or attempted violation in the course of her life.

35% of women and girls suffer some form of physical or sexual violence in their lifetimes; and in some countries, this percentage is nearly 70%.

Different international studies suggest that half of the women homicide victims  (called femicidios here in Nicaragua) are assassinated by their current spouse/partner or an ex.

Violence against women is a consequence of the discrimination that women suffer, in practice, in laws, and in the prevailing gender inequality.

All of this is deeply disturbing and disheartening, but violence against women and girls is avoidable; prevention is possible and necessary. In fact, it’s the theme of this year’s United Nation’s Campaign to recognize November 25.

I’m writing this from Managua, Nicaragua where today I witnessed hundreds of people from organizations all over the country come together for La Marcha Nacional Contra La Violencia.

 Last weekend, I had the privilege of experiencing “El Carnaval Contra La Violencia Machista” en Matagalpa, as well as a two artistic festivals denouncing this sexist violence and celebrating the lives of women.

This day means more to me than it ever has before, and it is so much more than a day off school and the day before Thanksgiving. All of November, I’ve been researching feminist organizations in Matagalpa and Managua and their efforts to change la cultura machista, the sexist culture, to break the cycle and prevent further violence against women. I’ve learned from the most inspiring leaders, heroines of mine, and am currently struggling like I’ve never struggled to compile all this important information from interviews and observations into a research paper in Spanish. This will be either my greatest triumph or a really good try and I fully intend to work at least 8 hours on Thanksgiving.

My shirt in the above photo says “Mis derechos no se negocian”. “My rights are nonnegotiable”. My friend said this would have been a cute picture if not for the pile of trash behind me. 

Fresh-baked tortillas from the sweet woman across the street and the Shrek soundtrack are sustaining me and I’m avoiding social media at all costs because homesickness very well could consume me, but through it all I am thankful and humbled. 

Because in two weeks, I’ll be back in my home where I’ve never been abused or assaulted. And that is a reality so many women are living, more than any statistics could measure because many live it in silence, blaming themselves for the behavior of their abuser.

I’m thankful that I’ve met some real change-makers; neither they nor I will be complacent in this inequality. 

I’m thankful that I have a voice, and I recognize that that is a privilege, a powerful one. 

May we all in this time of giving thanks, recognize that the gifts we have been given are really opportunities. How can we use our privileges, our strengths, and our ambitions to make the world better? 

To start, we can be informed this November 25, recognize that no country has yet achieved gender equality, and make a conscious effort to change that.

The link below leads to a very thorough infographic from UN Women for more information:

http://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/multimedia/2015/11/infographic-violence-against-women

UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka said in her remarks today, “if we all work together: governments, civil society organizations, the UN system, businesses, schools, and individuals mobilizing through new solidarity movements, we will eventually achieve a more equal world—a Planet 50-50—where women and girls can and will live free from violence”.

I very much look forward to this world and will do what I can to help us get there.

Peaceful Protest On, (I get that it’s not USC’s slogan but it doesn’t seem appropriate in this context) 

Grace