International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
Today is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and no, this is not a day we “celebrate.” This is a day we mourn. A day we question. A day we hold a mirror to humanity’s darkest truth.
Because the moment we assign a day to “eliminate violence” is the moment we admit: The violence is real. It is everywhere. And it has not stopped.
When did this become a man’s world?
Think about it.
A man enters this world through a WOMAN’S BODY. His first home is her womb. His first heartbeat is hers. His first safety is her arms. And yet, somewhere along the way, power flipped. Somewhere, compassion thinned. Somewhere, respect dissolved.
Let us not forget our glorious past. Ancient India was a beacon of equality and respect, where women were revered as goddesses, leaders, and innovators. From the wisdom of Gargi, Maithreyi, Anusuya, Arundathi to the bravery of Rani Lakshmibai, Ahilyabhai Holkar our ancestors celebrated the strength and intellect of women. The Vedas speak of women's rights to education and property, and portrayed women as heroes and decision-makers.
We never needed to "empower" women in ancient India; they were already empowered. They were scholars, warriors, and leaders, contributing to a society that valued equality and mutual respect. The sacred texts and traditions of our land emphasized the importance of cooperation and harmony between men and women.
Then, what went wrong? And also across the globe? How did we lose our way?
Did it happen when society confused strength with dominance? When boys were raised to command but not to understand? When silence was taught to girls and entitlement to boys?
The answer lies in the distortions of history, the erosion of values, and the silence of the masses. Whatever the reason. the consequence is devastating.
The data is not just alarming. It is heartbreaking.
According to the WHO: 840 million women have faced sexual or physical violence. As I write this article, 1 in 3 women globally experiences abuse in her lifetime.
According to the UN: In 2023, 51,100 women were killed by intimate partners or family members. One in three have faced partner violence or sexual violence in their lives. Online violence is exploding - harassment, deepfakes, cyberstalking. The cyber world has become another battleground.
Women are unsafe in the places meant to protect them: their homes, their offices, the churches, temples, other places of worships, their communities. I am not excluding men here as they are also unsafe in many places. Violence is not a headline. It is a habit. And that is the tragedy.
So who is responsible?
Are women to blame? Absolutely not.
Is it upbringing? Partly.
Is it culture? Perhaps.
But the bitter truth is this: Violence against women survives because WE ALLOW IT TO. Because we shrug. We move on. We say, “This is how the world is.” Until the next headline. The next statistic. The next funeral.
Let this day disturb us. Let it unsettle us.
Before we point fingers, let us point inwards.
How many times have we:
- dismissed a woman’s pain as overreaction?
- ignored a friend’s plea for help?
- laughed at SEXIST JOKES because speaking up felt awkward?
- told a daughter to be careful, instead of telling a son to be respectful?
Violence begins in small cracks, a raised voice, a harsh word, a forced silence. Before a hand is raised, dignity is already broken.
Imagine a world where this day is unnecessary.
No hashtags. No campaigns. No memorial posts. A world where women walk without fear, live without vigilance, and breathe without apology. A world where decency is not an exception, but the default. That is the world we must build.
Until then…
May we speak. May we intervene. May we protect. May we question. May we refuse to normalize suffering. Because violence ends not with laws alone, but with people- ordinary people who choose courage over comfort.
Today, we have a choice. We can continue down the path of inequality and fear, or we can reclaim our heritage and build a new future. And may we never forget: When you hurt a woman, you don’t just harm a person you wound humanity itself.
Sources:
- Business Standard
- Times of India
- World Health Organisation
- .AP News
- United Nations