OTTAWA, 10 December 2024 – Today, marking the conclusion of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence and commemorating Human Rights Day, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Special Representative on Gender Issues, Dr. Hedy Fry (Canada), expressed deep concern over the alarming rates of gender-based violence worldwide, highlighted by recent data revealing that one woman or girl is killed every 10 minutes by an intimate partner or a family member.
“Too many lives are lost and too many people continue to suffer from the consequences of gender-based violence in the OSCE region and worldwide,” said Dr Fry. “Everyone must be involved – including men and boys – in changing social norms, attitudes and behaviours that contribute to this pervasive violence.”
According to a joint report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and UN Women, globally, an estimated 51,100 women and girls were killed by an intimate partner or family member in 2023. This figure highlights the urgent need for legislators, governments, civil society, and international organizations to intensify efforts to combat this pervasive violence.
“Urgent collective action is needed to uphold the fundamental human rights of women and girls across the globe,” said Dr. Fry. As we move towards the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action in 2025, we must review our commitments and redouble our efforts to achieve gender equality. Dr. Fry has been calling on all OSCE participating States to prioritize legislative action, resource allocation, and inclusive societal efforts to address and prevent gender-based violence.
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Supported by lawmakers who play a central role in shaping policies that ensure justice and accountability, OSCE participating States have pledged to strengthen legal protections for women and girls by enacting and enforcing comprehensive laws. Governments must commit to allocating resources for gender-based violence prevention programmes, survivor-centered services, and women’s empowerment initiatives, while fostering broad-based partnerships, including with civil society, the private sector and communities, to challenge harmful gender stereotypes.
The Special Representative emphasized that preventing gender-based violence is not only a matter of justice but also a prerequisite for sustainable peace and security. The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly remains steadfast in its commitment to advancing gender equality and fostering societies free from violence and fear, she pointed out.
OSCE Parliamentary Assembly