The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, observed each year on November 25, is a key date for making visible and denouncing all forms of violence affecting women and girls around the world. This day, officially recognized by the United Nations General Assembly, reaffirms the global commitment to promoting policies, legal frameworks, and coordinated actions aimed at preventing, punishing, and eradicating gender-based violence in all areas of public and private life.

Its origin dates back to the legacy of the sisters Patria, Minerva, and María Teresa Mirabal, brutally murdered in 1960 in the Dominican Republic. In their memory, the Latin American and Caribbean feminist movement adopted this date during the First Feminist Meeting in 1981, and since then it has become a symbol of remembrance and collective action. Subsequently, initiatives such as the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign have strengthened international mobilization, coordinating efforts among governments, multilateral organizations, and civil society.

The United Nations’ recognition of this day in 1999 marked a milestone in acknowledging violence against women as a violation of human rights and a priority on the international agenda, reinforcing the need to move toward safe, inclusive, and violence-free environments, promoting substantive equality and unwavering respect for the dignity of all women.