Femicide: Killed For Saying ‘No’
Media headlines and stories of domestic abuse and violence against women are, unfortunately, common these days.
‘Honour Killings’ Still Rampant Today
A few days ago, an Iranian man was sentenced to prison for beheading his 14-year-old daughter with an axe back in May 2020, in a so-called ‘honour killing’. The victim, Romina, was decapitated in her sleep in their family home in Gilan Province in Iran. Local media reported that Romina ran away after her father refused to give permission for her to marry a man 15 years older than her – she was detained by authorities and sent home.
The Push To End Violence Against Women
Today marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. In the Philippines the days between 25 November and 12 December are observed annually as the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW). The tradition that emphasises VAW as a human rights violation has been going on since 1991. During this period, issues surrounding VAW take centre stage in the country at the forefront of gender equality in Southeast Asia.
Ending the violence against women in the region
“It is time to further our collective action to end violence against women and girls for good,” said United Nations’ Secretary-General António Guterres in his message on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 25 November 2017.He also said that unless the international community tackles violence against women, the world will not eradicate poverty or reach any of the other Sustainable Development Goals.