On 25 November, 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗩𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻, let us UNiTE to End Violence against Women!

In the face of a rising backlash against gender equality and women's rights worldwide, and the persistent normalisation of violence in all spaces, especially in the digital realm, the European Union and its Member States stand resolute in their commitment to gender equality, on the global stage.

𝗘𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿-𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 starts with prevention. Prevention is key to break the vicious circle that perpetuates violence. Protection ensures safeguarding the immediate well-being of victims-survivors. Together with prosecution and co-ordinated policies, these four pillars form a powerful framework for creating a safer and more equitable world for all.

We stand ready to 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 surrounding violence against women. Addressing gender-based violence starts with speaking up and lifting this taboo and stigma. Gender-based violence is not a private issue, not a women’s issue, but an issue for the whole society.

Any long-lasting solution requires 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗼𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝘂𝗲𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 at all levels, societal, cultural and individual.

The European Union is a 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴-𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗮𝗽𝘂𝗮 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗹 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆 around these important issues.

Under the 𝗘𝗨-𝗨𝗡 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲, which ended in 2023, we have supported national gender based violence response, referral pathways and national and local level coordination mechanisms. We have also supported human rights defenders work at community level.

Building on these achievements, the European Union renews its commitment with a new programme “𝗦𝗼𝗶𝗺 𝗪𝗼𝗸𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁: 𝗘𝗨 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗩𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀”. The main objectives are the effective enforcement of laws and the implementation of the National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender Based Violence 2016-2025.

Furthermore, the 𝗘𝗨-𝗣𝗡𝗚 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲 continues strengthening gender-responsiveness of the judicial system and supporting Papua New Guinea towards establishing a National Human Rights Institution.

Today, the Ambassador of the European Union, HE Jacques Fradin, the Ambassador of France, HE Pierre Fournier, and their teams, express their support to those who suffer and those who fight, speak up and stand for the elimination of gender-based violence. They stand by the authorities to end the unacceptable and abusive behaviour.

#OrangeTheWorld.