emOn the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the UN reaffirms its commitment to support Jordan in its work with monitoring cases of violence, promoting support mechanisms for victims of violence, along with adopting and enforcing laws to punish this form of crime. /em

Every year, millions of women and girls worldwide suffer some form of violence, be it domestic violence, rape, female genital mutilation, crimes ‘in the name of honor’, trafficking, sexual violence in conflict-related situations, or other manifestations of abuse.

Since 2000, every year on the 25supth/sup of November, the world has marked the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women to call for increased action to deal with the global pandemic of violence against women and girls.

Women who experience violence suffer a range of health problems and their ability to participate in public life is diminished. Violence against women harms families and communities across generations and reinforces other violence prevalent in society. Violence against women is not confined to a specific culture, region or country, or to particular groups of women within a society. The roots of such violence lie in persistent discrimination against women.

A life free of fear, oppression, violence and discrimination is a universal human right, and every woman in the world is entitled to it. However, for many women and girls in Jordan, the Arab Region and worldwide, this fundamental human right is denied.

The United Nations in Jordan works in collaboration with national and international partners to stop violence against women and girls, in the belief that this form of violence can be stopped. Behaviors, norms, and attitudes leading to violence can be changed and have to be changed, to secure an equal enjoyment of universal human rights.

Today, in marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, as well as every day of the year, it is the responsibility of the UN, the Government, partners and every citizen to speak out, to demand accountability for the violations of these rights, and to take concrete steps to end impunity.

On this day, the UN would like to renew its appeal to you all - government officials, civil society members, representatives of the private sector and members of the general public – to take concrete actions for eradicating violence against women and girls, in Jordan and worldwide.

Joint, comprehensive and coordinated interventions are necessary to create a world where fear, discrimination and violence are not a reality for women and girls, a world where mutual respect, equal opportunities and self-confidence are the daily life for all the women of generations to come.

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emThe UN in Jordan will be marking this day with a film screening and a debate in Zarqa under the Patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Rym Ali in cooperation with the Jordanian National Commission for Women (JNCW) and the Royal Film Commission. There will be a screening of the internationally acclaimed movie ’Sisters in Law’ followed by a panel debate facilitated by Najeh Hassan, Journalist and film critic and including JNCW Secretary General H.E. Asma Khader, UNIFEM Regional Director Dr. Dena Assaf, and Journalist and Writer Ms. Rana al Husseini. The event starts at 6pm at the King Abdullah Cultural Center./em