International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women seeks to raise awareness and promote action towards ending violence faced by women and girls. It focuses on the various forms of violence, including physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, as well as harmful cultural practices, such as female genital mutilation and forced marriage. The observance also encourages the implementation of policies and programs to prevent and address this violence, and underscores the need for greater international collaboration and support for affected women and girls.

The United Nations General Assembly designated this day in December 1999 in response to the brutal murder of three sisters, Patria, Minerva, and Maria Teresa Mirabal, in the Dominican Republic in 1960. In America, studies show that one in four women experience severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime, and nearly half of all women and men in the United States have experienced psychological aggression by an intimate partner. To address this pressing issue, numerous organizations and individuals actively work together to raise awareness, implement policies, and provide support to victims.

International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is observed through various events, campaigns, and educational activities aimed at promoting awareness and encouraging action from individuals, communities, and institutions. These efforts involve the participation of government agencies, non-governmental organizations, educational institutions, and other stakeholders that implement diverse strategies, such as engaging communities, empowering survivors, and challenging harmful attitudes and behaviors. International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women takes place annually on November 25th.

Top 10 Facts for International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women in 2026

• The 2026 campaign is centered on the theme UNiTE to End Violence Against Women and Girls: Ensure justice, protect survivors, end impunity, calling for robust legal systems and greater accountability for perpetrators.
• The observance launches the annual 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, a global mobilization effort that continues through December 10, which is International Human Rights Day.
• This year’s focus emphasizes that violence against women occurs on a continuum—spanning physical, sexual, and psychological harm—and highlights the critical need to address abuse across both offline and digital spaces.
• The date was officially designated by the United Nations General Assembly in 1999 to honor the memory of the Mirabal sisters, three political activists from the Dominican Republic who were brutally assassinated in 1960 for their opposition to the Trujillo dictatorship.
• Orange serves as the official color of the campaign, symbolizing a bright and optimistic future free from violence against women and girls.
• Global data indicates that approximately one in three women worldwide has experienced physical or sexual violence, often at the hands of an intimate partner, making this one of the most pervasive human rights violations.
• The United Nations defines gender-based violence as any act that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual, or psychological harm or suffering, including threats, coercion, or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life.
• The Mirabal sisters, often referred to by their code name Las Mariposas (the Butterflies), became powerful symbols of resistance against oppression, and their tragic deaths inspired the global movement to end gender-based violence.
• Activists and organizations worldwide mark the day by wearing orange, hosting educational events, and advocating for policies that remove barriers to justice and provide survivor-centered support services.
• * The United Nations’ UNiTE by 2030 to End Violence against Women initiative provides a multi-year framework that invites governments, civil society, and individuals to take concrete action to prevent and eliminate violence in all its forms.

In the News and Trending in the US for International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

Top things to do in the US for this observance

• Explore the U.N's informative Guideline to better understand the inequality women face.
• One of the most common forms of violence is intimate partner violence. Intimate partner violence can be committed by a former partner or a spouse and can take place in a public or private space. If you or someone you know has been affected, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or visit thehotline.org.
• Wear orange as a sign of solidarity. Orange is the official color of the UNiTE campaign.
• Research and support local organizations that work to end violence against women. Volunteer your time or make a donation to help these organizations continue their important work.

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