International Women’s Day: Spotlight on Global Violence Against Women

Author: one tough job

March 8th is International Women’s Day. International Women’s Day is a day when people all over the world celebrate the achievements and successes of women and girls. In some places, March 8th is a holiday where women stay home from work, receive gifts from family and friends, and celebrate this holiday like other major holidays.

International Women’s Day is also a day that specifically spotlights the discrimination, inequality, and violence many women experience. Gender discrimination and inequality continue to prevail and commonly affects women in the workforce and through the societal expectations of women as the primary caretaker of children and their families.

Violence against women is a Public Health issue that affects millions of women across the globe every day. Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and sexual abuse and assault are two predominant forms of violence that women worldwide face. Both violent acts are commonly perpetrated by intimate partners and have grave physical and mental health consequences. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations found that 1 in 3 women are subject to these forms of violence. Both IPV and sexual violence are two scenarios where solutions are not always present. If you are experiencing these forms of violence or know someone experiencing IPV or sexual assault, please remember that you are not alone. Keep in mind the violence is in no way the fault of the victim, and no judgment should be placed on them. Click here for immediate help based on your geographic location.

Information on specific Massachusetts-based resources for IPV and sexual and domestic violence can be found here.

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