On November 25, 1960 three sisters were brutally assassinated in the Dominican Republic on the orders of the ruler Rafael Trujillo. They were Patricia Mercedes Mirabal, Maria Argentina Minerva Mirabal and Maria Teresa Mirabal. They had fought to end Trujillo’s dictatorship.
Since 1981 Women’s Rights Activists observe a day against violence on women on the anniversary of the death of these three brave Mirabal sisters.
The U N General Assembly designated November 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
* One in three women worldwide experience physical or sexual violence — mostly by an intimate partner.
* Globally, 35% of women and girls will experience some form of physical and/or sexual violence. In some countries, the statistics are closer to 70%.
* Nearly half of all human trafficking victims around the world are women.
* 650 million women and girls in the world are forced to marry before the age of 18.
* 200 million women and girls have undergone female genital mutilation in 30 countries.
* About 15 million girls between 15 and 19 experience forced sex at one point in their lives.
*Domestic violence is a worldwide phenomenon across cultures and countries.
* Denial of girl children’s education is a rights violation and violence against womanhood.