OSCE Secretary General and OSCE/ODIHR Director call on participating States to end violence against women

VIENNA / WARSAW, 25 November 2016 - On the occasion of today’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier and Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) Michael Georg Link today called on OSCE participating States to step up their efforts to eradicate violence against women.    

“In recent years, some encouraging steps have been taken to improve the legal and policy frameworks to prevent violence and provide adequate support to survivors,” said Zannier. “Unfortunately violence against women continues to take place every day, in both the public and private sphere, with few survivors receiving justice and the support they deserve. I am particularly concerned by the persistent impunity of sexual violence in conflict. We need a holistic approach to eradicate all forms of gender-based violence.”

“One in three women experience violence in their lifetime. A significant number of these are women targeted because they are engaged in public life,” Director Link said. “Violence is not the only challenge for women in politics, but it makes a long term impact on their level of participation, as it can silence women fearing for their lives.”

“Throughout history women leaders have been undermined, especially if they have been standing up for women’s rights,” the ODIHR Director added. “There is no cultural context in which violence is an acceptable reaction to women exercising their human rights.”

To contribute to global efforts to prevent and combat violence against women, the OSCE is convening an international symposium on femicide today in Vienna to explore solutions and strategies to end this crime. The symposium has gathered governmental officials, and representatives of civil society, academia and international organizations working to improve and to build a foundation for a regional response to violence against women.

“The OSCE is firmly committed to combating all forms of violence against women and ensuring that women are safe. Bringing security home and protecting women from violence are part of our global security commitments,” said Zannier.

The OSCE is also joining the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign, which runs from today through 10 December – International Human Rights Day. You can learn more about the OSCE’s work combating violence against women and girls by following our social media channels on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and add your voice by using the hashtags #endVAW and #16Days.