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International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women2029 Countdown
Sunday, November 25, 2029
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About International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, observed every year on November 25, draws attention to one of the most widespread human rights violations in the world. The date commemorates the Mirabal sisters, three Dominican activists murdered in 1960 for opposing the Trujillo dictatorship, whose story became a global symbol of resistance. The United Nations designated the day in 1999 to push governments, organizations, and individuals to confront abuse against women and girls, from domestic violence and trafficking to harassment and harmful practices.
Since 2008 the UNiTE campaign has wrapped the day in orange, and the broader Orange the World initiative lights landmarks, bridges, and public buildings in orange during 16 days of activism that run through December 10, Human Rights Day. The color symbolizes a brighter future free of violence.
The day is less about ceremony and more about action: funding shelters, improving laws, educating young people about consent, and supporting survivors who come forward.
History of International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
The date honors the Mirabal sisters, Patria, Minerva, and Maria Teresa, three Dominican women who resisted the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo and were brutally killed on November 25, 1960. Their murders, carried out with the regime's blessing, shocked the country and helped galvanize the movement that eventually ended Trujillo's rule. In 1981, women activists from Latin America and the Caribbean, meeting at the first Encuentro Feminista in Bogota, declared the anniversary a day against violence toward women, and Latin American observances spread worldwide. The United Nations General Assembly formally adopted the day in 1999 through resolution 54/134, inviting governments and organizations to act. Since then the observance has anchored the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, running from November 25 to December 10, which connects women's safety with the broader human rights agenda.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- When is International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women?
- It is marked every year on November 25, a fixed date that honors the Mirabal sisters, killed on that day in 1960. The day also opens the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, which end on Human Rights Day, December 10.
- Is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women a public holiday?
- No. It is a United Nations observance, not a public holiday. Government offices, schools, and businesses stay open, and the day is marked through campaigns, events, and orange illuminations rather than time off.
- How do people observe the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women?
- People observe the day by wearing orange, lighting landmarks in orange, attending rallies and educational events, supporting survivor services, and sharing resources about recognizing and preventing abuse.
- Why is the day symbolized by the color orange?
- Orange was chosen by the UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign as a color of hope and a future free of violence, and it now defines the Orange the World campaign each November.