With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, most people are focusing on dinner plans, gifts, and parties. The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), on the other hand, proposes a slightly different agenda. Seven out of ten women experience violence at some point of their lives, and UN Women is working to change that. The organization works to end all forms of violence by aiding the passage of stronger laws, stopping exemption from punishment for offenders, and providing services for survivors of these crimes.
The 57th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women will take place March 4th-15th this year, and the major topic of discussion will be ending violence against women. As the session draws near, UN Women urges you to take action. You can get involved from your very own computer desk (or bed, or floor, or wherever) by visiting Say No To Violence. There you can “Start An Action” or “Join An Action” by simply creating a profile with the site. If you’re not sure what action you’d like to take, you can even visit their action ideas page to help get your creative juices flowing (ew).
Valentine’s Day reminds us that love should never involve physical, sexual, or emotional violence. Learn more at UNWomen.org and help women and girls everywhere live the safe, violence-free lives that they deserve.
Photos via SayNoToViolence.org and UNWomen.org
