Violence against women is not simply a personal tragedy — it is one of the most widespread human rights violations in the world. We must eliminate violence against women!
Whether it appears as domestic violence, sexual assault, emotional abuse, intimate partner violence, psychological abuse, financial abuse, spiritual abuse, sexual harassment, or any of the many other forms of violence, it impacts women, adolescent girls, young people, families, communities, and entire societies globally.
Every year on November 25th, we recognize the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women – a day day of remembrance for Las Hermanas Mirabal (the Mirabal sisters), political activists in my home country, the Dominican Republic, who were brutally murdered in 1960, by instruction of Rafael Leaonidas Trujillo, a torturous dictator who was known for the atrocities he committed against people, especially motivated by his sexist and racist views.
In its efforts to increase awareness about violence against women based on their gender, since 1981, the United Nations has commemorated the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
A call to Violence – Both ONLINE and IRL
This year, the UN is calling for awareness on digital violence and encouraging everyone to join the UNiTE campaign — an initiative of 16 Days of activism concluding on December 10th (International Human Rights Day).
Digital tools are increasingly being used to stalk, harass, threaten, and abuse women and girls, especially with the rise of artificial intelligence. This includes cyberbullying, trolling, threats, harassment, AI-generated images, hate speech, stalking, grooming, sexual exploitation, impersonation, and more!
According to the United Nations, digital violence targets women more than men, across all walks of life, but especially those with public or online visibility – such as activists, journalists, women in politics, human rights defenders, and young women.
These violent acts impact women and girls globally, and they often lead to offline violence in real life (IRL), such as coercion, physical abuse, and even femicide.
Almost one in three women has been subjected to physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both, at least once in their lives. This includes dating partners and adolescent abuse.
One woman or girl is killed every 10 minutes by their intimate partner or family. The impact is compounded for women and girls who face discrimination because of their race, socio-econonomical status, or lifestyle.
I can attest that the harm of violence against women affects survivors long-term and, sometimes, it’s a lifelong battle.
A World FREE of Gender-Based Violence
There is hope. Even though combating violence against women might seem like a huge undertaking, it can be simple to do our part to break the suffering, silence, and shame for a world free of gender-based violence.
As a supporter and a survivor, and as someone who spoke at the United Nations in support of Sustainable Development Goal #5 [ the empowerment of girls and women ], I’ve come to deeply believe in this truth:
The best protection we have to eliminate violence against women is each other.
Why “Each Other” Matters More Than Ever
The United Nations calls for policies, laws, International conventions (such as the Istanbul Convention), and updated frameworks (such as the Second Edition of Respect Women). These all matter. We must advocate for access to health systems, legal advice, and essential services for women. NO DOUBT.
And yet, at the same time, we know that change begins with people — with culture — with community. With me – with YOU.
We all know that violence thrives in silence, secrecy, and shame. Violence against women exists and persists because of the social norms that excuse, minimize, or normalize harm. Ending violence and the prevention of violence requires collective action, not just individual survival strategies.
It’s not enough to tell women to “stay safe.” We must create a world where women are safe.
And that world can only exist when:
- We believe and support survivors
- We intervene when we see harm or someone is in immediate danger
- We learn to recognize the early signs of abuse
- We teach relationship skills rooted in respect and model consent and equity
- We ensure digital safety in online and digital spaces
- We call out harmful social norms, even in (and especially in) public spaces
- We amplify unheard voices and uplift women’s movements and civil society organizations
- We advocate for justice and hold policy makers accountable
- We protect victims of violence from further harm
- We educate each other and refuse to normalize abuse in any form
This is how we combat violence — not alone, but together.
Shifting the Burden Off Women
For far too long, the narrative has placed responsibility on women:
- Don’t walk alone.
- Don’t wear that.
- Don’t trust him.
- Don’t go there.
- Don’t make him upset.
This messaging, along with the old questions “Why didn’t you leave?” or “Why did you pick him in the first place?”, blames victims when violence is not our fault. I have been through this so many times, and the most harmful was in the court house, facing the man who kidnapped me, raped me, and almost beat me up to death with a baseball bat.
We must stop believing and encouraging the idea that women must protect themselves from a world unwilling to protect them. Violence prevention is not the sole responsibility of a woman — it is the responsibility of everyone who believes in basic human rights, gender equality, and every woman and girl having a right to live to her full potential.
We must shift the conversation from “women need to protect themselves” to “we need to protect one another.”
Safe people save people
I always say that safe people save people. Whether in homes, digital spaces, schools, neighborhoods, workplaces, refugee camps, climate-vulnerable settings, or places of worship, solidarity is a lifeline.
When a family member, neighbor, teacher, employer, or friend listens, supports, and intervenes, survivors of violence are more likely to seek help and more likely to escape.
When communities reject harmful norms, challenge gender inequality, and embrace equality, the cycle begins to break.
When young people learn early about respect, boundaries, empathy, and digital safety, they become part of a new generation that refuses to tolerate violence.
And when women stand together, sharing stories, demanding justice, lifting each other’s voices, the world changes.
Sadly, many of us have expected that the people in our families, congregations, and communities would support us and yet are left with the pain of abuse, the heartbreak of betrayal, and the hurt of being completely alone when our world is breaking apart.
A safe and loving friend makes all the difference, not only in moments where violence is happening or has already happened, but also as a shield to prevent violence against women. Violence is preventable, but prevention demands participation.
Dismantling Stigma, Silence, and Shame
In a world where we are told to protect ourselves through fear, isolation, silence, and blame that creates stigma and shame, we must remind each other that true protection is rooted in love. It is demonstrated through community support and connection, and through the summoning of our collective strength.
Rising together is the antidote to violence:
- Women are safest when we hold each other.
- Women are strongest when we believe each other.
- Women are protected when we protect each other.
This is not a women’s issue; it’s a global issue, a human issue, and it requires awareness and accountability.
We are not each other’s competition – we are each other’s protection.
- We are each other’s shield.
- We are each other’s witnesses.
- We are each other’s advocates.
And that’s beautiful, because it means that we can each do something to empower those affected by gender-based violence, and to prevent it in all forms and on every platform (both online and offline).
Let’s UNiTE!
Let’s lift our voices in solidarity to support women and girls, so they can feel safe enough to stop shrinking and hiding and to grow and thrive. Let’s stand together – as sisters, as one.
So today, ask yourself, what is one small way I can protect, support, or empower a woman or girl today? Share with us in the comments below.
Founder of the Positive MOM® and creator of the S.T.O.R.Y. System: a blueprint to craft and share powerful stories that will transform your results and help others do the same. Dr. Elayna Fernández is a single mom of 4, an award-winning Storyteller, Story Strategist, and Student of Pain. She’s a bestselling author, internationally acclaimed keynote speaker, and 5x TEDx speaker. She has spoken at the United Nations, received the President’s Volunteer Lifetime Achievement Award, and was selected as one of the Top Impactful Leaders and a Woman of Influence by SUCCESS Magazine. Connect with Elayna at thepositivemom.com/ef and follow @thepositivemom. To receive a gift from Elayna, click HERE.
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