Ending gender-based violence: Ngayon na ang oras!

LETTER FROM AUSTRALIA

- HK YU, PSM

Dear friends, In the lead-up to the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on Nov. 25, I would like to share my reflections on how Australia and the Philippines are standing shoulder-to-shoulder to advance gender equality and end gender-based violence.

Globally, the statistics are alarming. Perpetrators are inflicting sexual or physical violence against one in three women and girls during their lifetime. Our region has some of the highest rates of intimate partner violence in the world, and my country is not immune. In Australia, one woman was killed every 11 days by a current intimate partner in 2023. One in three women has experienced physical violence and one in five has experienced sexual violence since the age of 15.

Gender-based violence is also an issue for the Philippines. Nearly one in five women, aged 15 to 49, has experienced physical violence (and this figure is likely higher due to under-reporting).

The effects of gender-based violence are far-reaching and have a profound and devastating impact on individuals, communities, and countries. It comes at considerable economic cost—the World Bank estimates it to be $1.5 trillion globally each year.