Immediate action must be taken to prevent violence against women, FGM

Noting November 25 was the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, Ann-Marie Wilson, founder and director of 28 Too Many, writes in the Huffington Post U.K.'s "Politics" blog, "The statistics for violence against women and girls are truly shocking. ... Not only do millions suffer each year but many are victims of repeated and sustained violence." She continues, "[M]any more cases of violence against women and girls are not reported, and this is particularly the case with deep-rooted traditional practices like female genital mutilation (FGM)." She states, "Clearly immediate actions should be taken to inform, educate, and train professionals in education, health, law enforcement, and social services in FGM, and child safety needs to be the clear priority."

"Over the next 12 months there is a good opportunity to make real progress, build support internationally, and push for specific action on violence against women," she writes, noting the U.N. will hold the 57th session of its Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in March and the next G8 Summit will be held in the U.K. in June. She continues, "I ... believe we need to use days like the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women as part of a sustained campaign to raise awareness nationally and internationally of all forms of gender-based violence including FGM and increase pressure on policymakers to prioritize actions to support survivors, prosecute perpetrators, and break the cycles of ongoing violence" (11/24).