VIENNA – Celebrating “16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence”

International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

celebrated in Vienna

 

 

December 3, 2010

During the event

The event, organized by UN Information Service (UNIS) in cooperation with Frauenhäuser Wien, UN Women’s Guild, Vienna NGO Committee on the Status of Women, and the 1st Women’s Chamber Orchestra of Austria, featured workshops for high-school students, a book lecture, music and performance, all calling for an end to violence against women and children.

In her welcome address, UNIS Vienna Deputy Director Sonja Wintersberger underlined the prevalence of violence against women. “It is a widespread phenomenon. Up to 70% of women are subject to violence in the course of her lifetime.”

In a session for high school students in the morning, representatives of the Frauenhäuser Wien briefed the students on the various forms of violence against women, raising their awareness on violence and familiarizing them in workshops with their work and the sensitive issue of violence against children.

Bettina Gwihs and Marion Geisler – authors of the book Am Anfang war ich sehr verliebt [In the beginning I was very much in love], which features women’s stories about love, violence and a new start in the women’s homes – spoke about the various forms of violence against women.

In her remarks Marlene Parenzan, Chairperson of the Vienna NGO Committee on the Status of Women, highlighted the importance of women’s rights and the cooperation with the United Nations. She stressed the “16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence”, a UN campaign that was launched on 25 November, pointing out the connections between women, violence, health and human rights and combining it with a call for action.

A dance performance and projections by Fabiana Pastorini, matching the theme of the day, and compositions of Dmitri Shostakovich, performed by the 1st Women’s Chamber Orchestra of Austria, completed the well attended event.

The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women was established by the General Assembly in December 1999 and is observed each year on 25 November to raise public awareness of violence against women and to call for its elimination.

 

Source:  www.un.org