Violence against Women is not inevitable: Ban Ki-moon
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Ban Ki-moon
Violence against women is not inevitable and everyone, women, men, girls and boys must wage the struggle to end it.
That's what UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told a gathering at the United Nations in New York on Friday to mark International Women's Day observed on 8 March.
He said ending violence against women and girls, which happens in all countries, is a human rights and social issue as well as a development question.
Secretary-Ban said violence against women and girls is a heinous human rights violation that takes place regardless of income, class and culture, in countries at peace and those at war.
"But violence against women is not inevitable. Mindsets can change. Data collection can be strengthened. States can and must provide legal aid, increase police capacity, extend the reach of protection plans and bring to justice perpetrators. And let us not forget the simple power of naming and shaming. Prevention must be our watchword." (30")
The Secretary-General said that a solid framework is taking shape with increasingly robust national laws and global standards to combat violence against women and girls.
Gerry Adams
Duration: 1'19"
