Director-General's remarks at the Event on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls

Event dedicated to the “16 Days of Activism” campaign 
against gender-based violence
#OrangeTheWorld 2025

Tuesday, 25 November 2025, at 12.30 p.m. 
Hall XIV, Palais des Nations

Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen, 
Dear colleagues and friends,

It is a great honour to join you today to launch the “16 Days of Activism” campaign against gender-based violence here in Geneva. Beginning on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls on 25 November and culminating on Human Rights Day on 10 December, this annual global campaign calls on all of us to take action to end violence against women and girls.

I wish to extend my gratitude to the Permanent Delegation of the European Union and to UN Women for their leadership in organizing today’s event. Your commitment ensures that Geneva continues to stand at the forefront of advancing gender equality and advocating for women’s rights.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Violence against women and girls remains one of the most pervasive human rights violations worldwide. Millions experience physical, sexual, and psychological abuse, with devastating consequences for their health, safety, and opportunities in life. Through the UNiTE campaign, the United Nations system has consistently mobilized global efforts to protect women and girls and to work towards a world free from gender-based violence by 2030. This initiative underscores the need for comprehensive legislation, prevention strategies, accountability, and support for survivors, and emphasizes that ending violence against women and girls is both a global priority and a shared responsibility.

This year, the 16 Days of Activism campaign highlights the growing threat of digital violence. Online spaces - from social media to professional platforms - have become essential arenas for participation, expression, and opportunity. But for many women and girls, these spaces are also sites of harassment, threats, disinformation, and abuse. Digital violence is real violence. It threatens safety, silences voices, and perpetuates gender inequalities.

The 2025 UNiTE campaign “Stop Digital Violence, Protect All Women and Girls” calls on governments, technology companies, civil society, and international organizations to act collectively. Together, we can create digital spaces that are safe, inclusive and accountable.

The symbolic installation that we will unveil shortly captures this vision beautifully. As the panels of hate are removed and replaced with hearts, likes, and commitments, we visually affirm that safety, respect, and solidarity can triumph over violence and intimidation. Each sticker, each commitment, is a statement that digital spaces - just like physical ones - belong to all women and girls, free from fear.

Ladies and gentlemen,

International Geneva has long been a hub of diplomacy, human rights, and multilateral action. By participating in the UNiTE campaign and today’s event, we demonstrate our shared responsibility to protecting women and girls everywhere.

Let us reclaim online spaces for empowerment rather than intimidation. Together, we can create a world where women and girls are free to speak, to connect, and to thrive – both online and offline.

Thank you.