November 25 marks the International Day For The Elimination Of Violence Against Women, an annual effort by the United Nations to raise awareness about the women around the world who fall victim to gender-based violence.

Monday marks the beginning of a 16-day period of activism, culminating with Human Rights Day on December 10th, an attempt to make the point that addressing violence against women is an integral part of ensuring basing human rights for everyone around the world.

"This weekend, a woman in Nebraska was reportedly stabbed 13 times by her husband after having filed a protection order against him just last month. A few days earlier, three young girls were gang raped by soldiers in Ogaden, Ethiopia. Recent reports indicate the girls remain in critical condition after having nearly bled to death as a result of the attacks," said Ambassador Samantha Power in a statement on Monday. "Violence against women is a global scourge. It’s an international shame that affects 35 percent of women during their lifetimes. That means one out of three of our mothers, daughters, and wives beaten, raped, or killed."

According to the World Health Organization, it is estimated that one in three women around the world is subject to sexual violence at some point in her life. Furthermore, one in four men in some part of the world have committed rape, according to a recent UN report.

Worldwide, intimate partner violence is the leading cause of women's non-fatal injuries, leading to long-term health problems. Moreover, the presence of firearms in the house escalates violence against women, increasing the chance of fatality by 500 percent. In states with stronger background checks for gun sales, 38 percent fewer women are killed by intimate partners.

The fatal gang rape of students in New Dehli last December sparked nationwide protests, shedding light on the sensitive issue of gender violence. Widespread child marriage in countries such as Yemen is common to this today. Without placing this issue on the international agenda, violence against women will continue to increase at an alarming rate.

As Power states, "Today ... should not be the only day we decide to face the grim reality of our societies’ pandemic of female violence."

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