By Green Chizoba.O, Esq
As the world observes the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, we are reminded of the promises made nearly three decades ago at the historic Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing. The 2024 United Nations UNiTE Campaign theme, “Towards Beijing +30: UNiTE to End Violence Against Women and Girls,” is a call to reignite global commitments to ending gender-based violence in all its forms.
However, as we reflect on progress made, we must confront an uncomfortable truth: many women, particularly those on the margins, have been left behind in this journey.
At the heart of this year’s campaign theme is an urgent demand for inclusivity. Ending violence against women and girls must mean ending violence against all women and girls, including those whose identities and circumstances place them at the intersections of multiple forms of discrimination. Women living with HIV, women with disabilities, women who use drugs, LBQTI women, and sex workers are among those most vulnerable to violence, yet their experiences are often sidelined in mainstream advocacy.
The Marginalised Majority
The Executive Director of LIRAD eloquently captured the gravity of this crisis in her address today, highlighting the unique barriers faced by marginalised women in Nigeria, West Africa, and across the African continent.
For women living with HIV, stigma often translates into violence from intimate partners, discrimination in healthcare, and social exclusion. Women with disabilities face disproportionately high rates of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, often from those entrusted with their care. Women who use drugs and sex workers are criminalised and stigmatised, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation, extortion, and violence from law enforcement and clients alike. LBQTI women endure hate crimes and systemic rejection, frequently exacerbated by laws and cultural norms that criminalise their identities.
These groups are not small minorities. They represent millions of women whose stories are silenced, whose struggles are neglected, and whose safety and dignity are routinely violated.
UNiTE to End Marginalisation
The UNiTE campaign’s 2024 focus on Beijing +30 offers a critical opportunity to amplify the voices of marginalised women and advocate for systemic change. We cannot truly commemorate the legacy of Beijing if we fail to address the specific realities of those most at risk of violence.
As the Executive Director of LIRAD pointed out, violence against marginalised women is not just physical—it is systemic, institutional, and deeply embedded in social norms, laws, and policies that exclude them. This year’s theme compels us to move beyond surface-level solutions and tackle the root causes of this violence, including structural inequalities and cultural attitudes that perpetuate stigma and silence.
Actions Towards Beijing +30
To align with the 2024 UNiTE Campaign, LIRAD is championing a multi-pronged approach to ending violence against marginalised women and girls:
1. Advocacy for Inclusive Policies: Stronger laws and policies that address the intersecting vulnerabilities of marginalised women, such as those living with HIV, women with disabilities, and sex workers.
2. Community-Led Prevention Programmes: Initiatives that challenge harmful societal norms and empower women to lead efforts in their own communities.
3. Investment in Support Services: Expanding access to survivor-centred healthcare, legal aid, and psychosocial support that addresses the unique needs of marginalised groups.
4. Education and Awareness Campaigns: Shifting societal attitudes through education on the human rights of all women, particularly those facing intersecting barriers.
Towards a Truly Inclusive Future
As we approach Beijing +30, let us ensure that the global movement to end violence against women is truly inclusive. The promise of Beijing was a world where all women could live free from violence, regardless of their identities, circumstances, or the barriers they face. Achieving this vision requires us to centre the voices of marginalised women and work tirelessly to dismantle the systems that oppress them.
At LIRAD, we are committed to this fight. We believe that no woman—whether living with HIV, with disabilities, who uses drugs, identifies as LBQTI, or works as a sex worker—should ever face violence, stigma, or exclusion.
The 2024 UNiTE campaign reminds us that this is a collective responsibility. Together, we must amplify the voices of those most affected, break the barriers that hold them back, and build a future where every woman and girl is safe, empowered, and heard.
Together, we can UNiTE to end violence against women and girls—for good.
Let us honour the legacy of Beijing by turning words into action, promises into progress, and silence into solidarity.
