On the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, from the United Nations in Uruguay we call to renew and strengthen the commitment of the whole society, government and institutions to prevent and end gender violence and ensure care for women and girls victims of violence.
Once again, the United Nations agencies, funds and programmes in Uruguay call for the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence, a campaign that runs every year between 25 November, which corresponds to the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and 10 December, International Human Rights Day. Violence against women is the most widespread violation of human rights.
In support of this initiative, under the leadership of UN Secretary-General António Guterres, the UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign calls for global action to raise awareness, sensitize and galvanize efforts, as well as share and exchange knowledge and innovative solutions to end violence against women and girls.
In Uruguay, despite significant progress in the implementation of regulatory frameworks and public policies to eradicate gender violence, it is evident that much remains to be done.
We underscore the importance of opening up the conversation about violence and sexual harassment against women and encouraging society as a whole, men and women, to engage and act urgently on this issue. In particular, to embrace cultural change to ensure true gender equality and the possibility of living a life free of violence.
This year 2020, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, it became evident that quarantine measures, social isolation and mobility restrictions intensified the risk factors for gender-based violence. Although restrictive measures do not persist in Uruguay, in the months of March, April and May there were significant increases in calls to the telephone counselling service in cases of violence against women. The prevention and redress of violence against women and girls must be a fundamental part of the national response plans to COVID-19, but above all a State policy since it is a structural problem derived in large part from the prevailing social norms in Uruguay and throughout the region.
From the United Nations we want to reinforce our commitment to put an end to violence and discrimination; to protect and defend the most vulnerable people and to eliminate gender stereotypes in all areas.
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We invite you to know the results of the II National Survey on Prevalence of Gender-Based Violence and Generations of INMUJERES | MIDES https://www.gub.uy/ministerio-desarrollo-social/comunicacion/publicaciones/encuesta-nacional-prevalencia-sobre-violencia-basada-genero-generaciones
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