International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women: opening and closing reflection

Dear colleagues, this Wednesday, November 25, marks the twenty-first International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, whose ultimate purpose is to raise the awareness and sensitivity of humanity regarding one of the most widespread, persistent and devastating human rights violations in the world: violence against women and girls.

Only a few days ago, the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS), through resolution AG/RES. 2961 (L-O/20), "Promotion and Protection of Human Rights," highlighted the concern of the American states at the sharp increase in gender-based physical, psychological and sexual violence against women and girls in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. This coincides with the call of the United Nations (UN) to Member States to make the prevention and redress of violence against women and girls a central part of national plans for responding to the pandemic.

Reports by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Inter-American Commission of Women (CIM) indicate that, in addition to the health and economic crisis created by COVID-19, the pandemic has had a differentiated impact on violence against women and girls in Latin America and the Caribbean. For that reason, it is crucial to have new approaches that break with the usual situation and put an end to violence against women now, as invoked by the 2021 theme of the United Nations for this commemoration: UNiTE: "Orange the World: End Violence against Women Now!"

To reach that goal, we must begin by believing the victims and by adopting comprehensive and inclusive approaches that address the root causes, transform harmful social norms and empower women and girls, as UN Women requests. That is why this morning, around these ideas, we will hear expert voices so that together we may reflect on the true meaning of this commemoration.

My sincere thanks to the Permanent Missions of Argentina, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Peru, the Dominican Republic and Trinidad and Tobago for their efforts and support in organizing this special meeting of the Permanent Council.

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To conclude, I wish to offer a final reflection: violence against women is a form of discrimination and a violation of human rights that causes untold suffering, cuts lives short and leaves countless women living in pain and fear in every part of our Hemisphere; it harms families across generations, impoverishes communities and reinforces other forms of violence in our societies.

Violence against women prevents them from achieving their full personal development, restricts economic growth and hinders development. The spread and scope of violence against women reveal the degree and persistence of the discrimination that women continue to face. It can therefore be eliminated only by working to eliminate discrimination, promoting the equality and empowerment of women and ensuring the full exercise of their human rights.

Violence against women is neither unchangeable nor inevitable; it can be radically reduced and eventually eliminated with political will and the necessary resources. Today's conversation has allowed us to see the degree of awareness, the commitments undertaken and concrete examples of progress in each of our countries at this very particular juncture that the pandemic has imposed on us.