PBI-Mexico and PBI-Colombia accompany marches on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

On November 25, the Peace Brigades International-Mexico Project posted on Facebook and Twitter: “This afternoon we accompanied the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women March in Mexico City.”

PBI-Mexico adds: “We express concern over the current crisis of femicides and disappearances and remember the obligation of the authorities to ensure the safety of women, journalists and defenders, in addition to the rights to freedom of expression and demonstration.”

Agence France Presse reports: “Around 10 women are killed every day in Mexico and activists accuse the government of not doing enough to tackle the problem.”

That same day, the Peace Brigades International-Colombia Project tweeted: “Today on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, PBI-Colombia accompanied the Campesina Association of the Cimitarra River Valley – National Agroecological Network (ACVCRAN) in the first mobilization of the year called in the municipality of Yondó, Antioquia with the slogan ‘No to violence against women’.”

Al Jazeera reports: “An average of nearly three women a day were killed in Colombia in September, with 86 femicides recorded in the month. It is the highest monthly total researchers have documented since they began tracking the killings in 2017.”

The UN has stated: “Violence against women and girls is one of the most widespread, persistent and devastating human rights violations in our world today remains largely unreported due to the impunity, silence, stigma and shame surrounding it.”

The UN further highlights: “Since the outbreak of COVID-19, emerging data and reports from those on the front lines, have shown that all types of violence against women and girls, particularly domestic violence, has intensified.”

Globally, 35 per cent of women have ever experienced physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, or sexual violence by a non-partner.

The Canadian Femicide Observatory for Justice and Accountability reported that a woman or girl was killed every 2.5 days on average in Canada last year.

Furthermore, the National Inquiry into Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls determined that “state actions and inactions rooted in colonialism and colonial ideologies” are in part responsible for the thousands of Indigenous women and girls who have been murdered or gone missing in Canada which the report names as genocide.

The Canadian Femicide Observatory for Justice and Accountability says: “Empowering girls and young women, promoting equality for all women and confronting stereotypes and biases about violence against women can help prevent femicide.”

For further updates and analysis, we encourage you to follow the Canadian Femicide Observatory on Twitter and Facebook.

PBI-Canada is committed to a vision of a world free of violence. We stand in solidarity with women impacted by gender-based violence and with all who strive to end femicide, discrimination, harassment, and hate.