The European Union and the United Nations launched a joint initiative on September 20, 2017, to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls, one of the most widespread and devastating human rights violations across the globe.
“It is a harsh but true reality – one in three women will face violence throughout their lifetime,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said at the launch event, held on the margins of the General Assembly’s high-level annual debate. “Violence against women and girls devastates lives, and causes pain across generations,” he added.
“The European Union is committed to combatting all forms of violence against women and girls, as they undermine our core fundamental rights and values, such as dignity, access to justice and gender equality,” EU High Representative Federica Mogherini told the event.
“We need first to ensure that we keep women and girls safe, in order to empower them to deploy their full potential.” (UN News Centre – September 20, 2017)
