Director-General's remarks at the Art installation “Disarming Silence” by Ms. Franziska Greber

Art installation “Disarming Silence” by Ms. Franziska Greber 
for the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence

Tuesday, 25 November 2025, at 1.15 p.m.
Next to Salon Suisse, Building A, Palais des Nations

The United Nations Office at Geneva is honoured to host the immersive installation Disarming Silence as part of the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence - the campaign that draws attention to one of the most widespread human rights violations worldwide.

I thank UNIDIR, the artist Ms. Franziska Greber, supporting Member States and partners - and most importantly, the hundreds of women whose testimonies form the heart of this installation. Their handwritten words, inscribed on garments from around the world, speak directly of discrimination, violence, resilience and hope. This project ensures that women’s voices are not mediated or distant - they are present, visible, and impossible to ignore.

The reality they reveal is alarming: 1. One in three women globally experiences physical or sexual violence; 2. Conflict-related sexual violence has risen by 50 percent in the past year alone, with women and girls representing 95 percent of survivors. 3. The proliferation of weapons fuels this violence; most incidents of sexual violence in conflict involve a firearm.

These facts underscore the need for comprehensive action - from gender-responsive arms control, to stronger human rights protections, to sustained investment in prevention, justice and survivor support.

Art plays a unique role in this effort. This impressive installation highlights experiences that are often hidden or overlooked. It reminds that gender-based violence is not abstract - it affects real women, in every region, every society, every community. And it challenges all of us to listen, to acknowledge and to act.

As we observe the 16 Days of Activism, the message from this installation is clear: ending gender-based violence is not the work of days - it is a global imperative that must guide us every day of the year.