National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women

International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

25 November is declared by UN resolution as International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, inviting governments, international organizations and NGOs to organize activities designed to raise public awareness of the problem on that day.

UNESCO Beirut is marking this day by launching a gender based violence pilot study in Lebanon.

December 6 is declared by Canada

as

the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women.

Gender-based violence (GBV) is a violation of human rights with severe physical, psychological and mental consequences as well as a root cause for various social problems. GBV also negatively affects girls’ access to and retention in education. According to the EFA Global Monitoring Report on Gender and Education for All, gender-based violence is a major reason for underachievement and high dropout rates of girls from school which perpetuates the gender gap.

To mark the day, UNESCO Beirut is launching a pilot study in Lebanon on school-related gender based violence, in order to identify:

the nature and extent of the phenomenon

the root causes and its main perpetrators

the impact on students, particularly girls, and on their educational choices and achievement

The findings of the study will be used to initiate policy dialogue on school related GBV and to guide appropriate corrective and preventive action in an effort to promote a safe learning environment that allows all learners, girls and boys, to attend school free from the fear and consequences of violence.

The study is implemented in collaboration with the Higher Council for Childhood – Ministry of Social Affairs, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education and La Sagesse University. It is financed by the Government of Italy within the framework of the project “Supporting Gender Equality in Education in Lebanon”.

The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence campaign is organized every year, starting with The International Day to End Violence Against Women on 25 November until the International Human Rights Day on 10 December. On this occasion, UNESCO Beirut is organizing a press conference on 3 December on the occasion of launching the study on school related GBV.

06.12.2010
Source: UNESCO Office in Beirut