For over 100 years International Women’s Day has been celebrated by women all around the world pushing for total equality in the workplace, in the political arena, and most importantly in the home. The first National Women’s Day was celebrated in the United States on February 28, 1909 after 15,000 women marched through New York demanding shorter hours, better wages, and the right to vote. Four years later it became International Women’s Day (IWD) celebrated on March 8, by countries all over including Afghanistan, Armenia, Cambodia, China, Cuba, Russia, and the United States.
The Secretary-General of the United Nations has declared the UN theme for 2013 to be: “A promise is a promise: Time for action to end violence against women.” Hubbard House wants to recognize the United Nations’ efforts to end violence against women and shed light on the statistics that are still present in our country and the world today.
- In the United States it is estimated that every 9 to 15 seconds a woman is beaten
- 18.3 % of women in the United States have survived a completed or attempted rape. Of these, 12.3% were younger than age 12 when they were first raped, and 29.9% were between the ages of 11 and 17
- Almost one-third of female homicide victims are killed by an intimate partner
- At least 60 million girls who would otherwise be expected to be alive are “missing” from various populations, mostly in Asia, as a result of sex-selective abortions, infanticide or neglect
- Globally, at least one in three women and girls is beaten or sexually abused in her lifetime
- 4 million women and girls are trafficked annually
Violence is one of most deadly and widespread violations against women’s rights across the world, but there is hope in the fight.
“UNESCO is working across the board to end violence against women. Laws alone are not enough. We must educate to shape new norms and behaviors. To empower women and ensure equality, we must challenge every form of violence every time it occurs. This is UNESCO’s promise on International Women’s Day.”- The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization.
Events are held all over the world to recognize this day including political rallies, business conferences, and government recognition.
The following are a selection of websites at which to view violence against women statistics:
- Bureau of Justice: Crime and Victim Statistics
- Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women
- Family Violence Prevention Fund
- RAINN Statistics
- Violence Against Women Online Resources
- World Health Organization: Violence Against Women
If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship please call the Hubbard House hotline at (904) 354-3114 or (800) 500-1119. Hubbard House can help.
ABOUT HUBBARD HOUSE: Founded as the first domestic violence shelter in Florida in 1976, Hubbard House is a certified, comprehensive domestic violence center providing programs and services to more than 5,000 women, children, and men annually in Duval and Baker counties. While Hubbard House is most known for its emergency shelter, the agency also provides extensive adult and youth outreach services, school-based education, therapeutic childcare, batterers’ intervention programs, court advocacy and volunteer and community education opportunities. Visit www.hubbardhouse.org to learn more.
By Hannah Johnson