276 Chibok schoolgirls abducted. Girls’ college in Khyber bombed. An estimated 39,000 child marriages every day. Violence against women and girls is a global epidemic.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that 35% of women worldwide have experienced either intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime. In Ethiopia, where Enhance Worldwide operates, WHO reports that 71% of women experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime.
The United Nations Secretary-General’s Campaign UNiTE to End Violence Against Women has proclaimed the 25th of each month as Orange Day, “a day to raise awareness and take action against violence against women and girls.” The UNiTE Campaign’s theme for May is technology:
- Mapping: crowdsourced mapping tools identify where violence against women and girls is happening
- Connecting: social networking platforms bring together communities of advocates against violence
- Informing: enabling women and girls around the world to better understand their rights and access services
- Protecting: alert apps help women and girls if they are at risk of violence
- Collecting evidence: increasing access to justice for survivors
May’s Orange Day activities start today with a global tweetathon, inviting activists, governments, and UN partners to collaborate on new technologies to prevent violence against women and girls. Follow @SayNO_UNiTE and the hashtag #OrangeDay
Let’s all make the world a safer place for women and girls! #endVAW #orangeurhood
