KABUL, 25 November 2015 - Today marks the start of 16 Days of Activism Against Genderbased
Violence. 25 November is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against
Women (EVAW).
This year the 16 Days of Activism stresses the theme: "From Peace in the Home to Peace in the
World: Make Education Safe for All". The global campaign emphasizes the critical need for peace,
through safe and quality education for all, and as a result works towards ending violence against
women and girls.
In Afghanistan, and around the world, UN agencies, and their partners, will raise awareness on
violence against women and mobilize communities and people to advocate for social change
where violence against women is not accepted or tolerated.
The ongoing conflict in Afghanistan continues to severely restrict access to education for women
and girls Overall, for the first nine months (1 January to 30 September) of 2015, approximately
210 schools closed due to conflict, affecting access to education to more than 20,500 girls.
Direct threats by armed opposition groups against schooling for girls affected access to education
for approximately 17,000 female students. Eastern region remains the most acutely affected,
whereby at least 13,000 girls no longer go to school due to threats, closures and direct attacks.
"Across the world, violence against women and girls is one of the most prevalent, yet one of the
most silenced realities," said Tadamichi Yamamoto, the Secretary-General's Deputy Special
Representative for Afghanistan and acting head of UNAMA. "This year Afghanistan has witnessed
some horrific incidents of violence against women, and we have also witnessed unprecedented
collective action as women and men from different walks of life have come forward in solidarity to
demand justice for the victims of violence against women and girls. Justice and accountability
must be upheld."
Violence against women and girls remains widespread in Afghanistan. Despite the ratification of
the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in
March 2003 and many progressive actions since then, more needs to be done to prevent, protect
against, and respond to violence against women. Legal guarantees and social change need to
simultaneously work with each other.
"For violence against women and girls to be put behind us, it is essential that the government and
people of Afghanistan, in partnership with the international community, work together in support
of each other to live up to the guarantees in the Constitution," said Elzira Sagynbaeva, UN Women
Country Representative in Afghanistan. "There needs to be effective implementation of the laws
that protect all citizens, especially women and girls. Critically, an environment needs to be created
where women and girls feel safe and are provided with an opportunity for development, not just
at home, but in public as well."
The United Nations is committed to supporting the Government of Afghanistan to ensure a life
free of violence for women and girls, and their equal participation in public life.
