As the world marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, legal and human-rights specialists stress that women continue to confront daily battles within social and legal systems that often fail to provide adequate protection. Despite the many forms of violence they endure, women consistently demonstrate remarkable resilience and the ability to drive social and political transformation, supported by international initiatives that have strengthened awareness and widened the space for defending their rights.
Yet specialists warn that legislative shortcomings in many countries – particularly in the Arab region – remain a major obstacle to comprehensive and effective protection. Patterns of violence are becoming increasingly complex, ranging from domestic abuse to digital, economic and political violence. Between women’s determination to secure their rights and the persistent gaps that allow violations to spread, discussions are renewed about the need for states to uphold international conventions, reform legislation and enhance public awareness. Only then can societies ensure the dignity of women and address all forms of violence with seriousness and resolve.
Every year on 25 November, the world reflects on the scale and impact of violence against women, seeking to intensify global efforts to protect women and girls. Despite these efforts, international and human-rights organisations continue to warn that this is among the most widespread and enduring human-rights violations.
Recent data indicate that, even as the world enters 2025, an estimated 840 million women have experienced partner-related or sexual violence in their lifetime. According to the World Health Organization, this figure has remained largely unchanged since 2000, despite numerous initiatives and international campaigns aimed at reducing such violence.
The WHO also reports that 11 per cent of women aged 15 and above experienced physical or sexual violence from a partner in the past year alone. A further 263 million women have faced sexual violence from non-partners. Actual figures are expected to be higher due to stigma, fear and widespread under-reporting.
UN agencies warn that funding for prevention programmes is declining at a time when risks are rising due to conflict, instability and humanitarian crises. Reports from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime further highlight persistently high rates of “femicide” – the gender-based killing of women – with domestic and intimate-partner contexts remaining the most dangerous environments for many women.
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Women’s Resilience and Leadership
Human-rights lawyer and activist Nada Hussein Malki from North and East Syria told +963 that women continue to resist violence and challenge deeply entrenched patriarchal norms. She notes that international support has helped many women build awareness, gain agency and defend themselves more effectively.
Malki emphasises that the women’s movement in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria is a powerful example of women’s capacity to lead, make policy and create tangible change across economic, cultural and political sectors. She argues that women have demonstrated equal – and often greater – effectiveness than men in shaping their communities.
The Need for Implementing International Conventions
Malki stresses the urgency of adopting practical measures to reduce violence against women, noting that global statistics still show consistent rates of abuse. She calls for full implementation of international conventions on women’s rights, alongside stronger efforts to challenge patriarchal attitudes within societies.
She also highlights the responsibility of the international community to monitor compliance and hold states accountable for violations. Several Arab countries, she explains, continue to practise forms of violence and discrimination despite having signed relevant treaties.
Legal Gaps and Their Consequences
Lebanon-based lawyer and political analyst Amin Mohammed Bashir argues that many Arab countries remain far behind in enacting protective legislation. Violence is no longer limited to physical harm but now includes digital, economic and political forms, each presenting new challenges for legal systems.
In the absence of clear and targeted laws, women are often forced to rely on scattered provisions within penal codes or intellectual-property laws to seek protection. This, he explains, highlights significant legislative deficiencies. Bashir adds that discriminatory regulations in areas such as labour and wages continue to perpetuate inequality.
Civil-society groups play an important role in raising awareness, he notes, but such efforts remain limited without substantive legislative reform. Effective laws are the foundation of real protection; without them, gaps persist and perpetrators exploit them. Legal reform, therefore, is not merely a rights-based demand but a social and political necessity to ensure justice, equality and women’s active participation in public life.
A Call for Collective Commitment
The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women serves as a moment for reflection and renewed commitment. Combating violence is not a slogan reserved for commemorative dates – it is a long-term process requiring awareness, fair and enforceable laws, and daily practices that embed respect and equality.
The essential message of this day is clear: protecting women is not an optional act of goodwill, but a fundamental human duty. Ensuring women’s safety and dignity is central to building societies that are more just, secure and resilient for all.
