Every year 25th November is not merely considered as a symbolic observance but it is a reminder of voices which are in silence, pain endured, and resilience often overlooked. The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women invariably compels the world to stand against a brutal reality which is still a part of society and millions of women continue to live in fear within spaces that should protect them. This day is not only about being restricted to any isolated incident rather it is about standing against a global pattern of abuse which is rooted in power, control, and deeply ingrained patriarchy.
Understanding the Many Faces of Violence
It is important to note that violence against women is not always physical or visible; it can also be through emotional manipulation, verbal humiliation, economic dependence, coercion, unwanted touch, or forced silence. Basically violence takes place when a woman is being blamed for her own abuse, when her mobility is invariably restricted, or when she is conditioned to prioritise “family honour” over personal safety and choices. From domestic violence and marital abuse to workplace harassment and cyber exploitation, the forms of violence may vary but the very underlying inequality remains unchanged.
Perhaps the most devastating aspect of gender-based violence is how society learns to normalise it day to day life. We witness that from childhood women are taught to endure, to adjust, to compromise, to remain silent. Often bruises are hidden behind makeup, trauma is buried behind smiles, and pain is considered as part of womanhood. It is important to understand that the silence surrounding abuse does not signify acceptance; it invariably reflects fear, societal pressure, and a major lack of trust in institutional support systems.
Ground level reality of Law and Justice
Despite having strong legislation such as the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, sexual harassment laws, and criminal laws addressing gender-based abuse, the gap between law and lived reality is still felt. Survivors of domestic violence often face character assassination during complaints, slow judicial processes, insensitive policing, social ostracism and also the pressure to withdraw cases. Justice in such cases becomes an exhausting journey rather than a healing one. Moreover it is important to understand that the true protection lies not just in statutes, but in empathy-driven implementation.
It is important to understand that safety is not limited to locked doors or police presence; rather true safety means the freedom to exist without restrictions or calculating risk at every step. It is the fundamental right to walk without fear, speak without hesitation, and express without punishment. This right includes safe homes and relationships, zero-tolerance workplaces, secure digital spaces and very importantly emotional and psychological well-being. A woman should not have to shrink herself to feel safe in any situation.
Dignity as a Human Right
A woman’s dignity is inherent and not at all conditional upon silence or sacrifice. When any kind of violence strips her autonomy, she doesn’t need sympathy, she needs justice. When we humanise survivors it means seeing them beyond victimhood as an individual with strength, complexity, and courage. Dignity of women invariably lies in being believed, respected, and empowered to reclaim control over one’s life.
Women Empowerment
Empowerment is not a decorative slogan, it is structural change as it invariably involves education and awareness, economic independence, legal accessibility, mental health support, leadership representation. But it is also important to understand women empowerment should not be restricted, it must also involve men. Accountability, empathy and respectful behaviour must be taught at an early stage of life. Violence against women is not a gendered burden, it is a social failure.
Digital Violence and a call for collective responsibility
In today’s digital world violence has entered virtual spaces. Online stalking, doxxing, revenge pornography, and deepfake technology have invariably become tools of harassment and humiliation. Criminal Laws continue to lag behind technological misuse, leaving survivors vulnerable in platforms that were meant to empower them. Therefore, it is important that modern safety must include cyber-security awareness and reform-driven digital governance.
25th November should not be reduced to only performative activism or symbolic campaigns. It must initiate sustained action, meaning thereby policy reform should be introduced, survivor-centred justice mechanisms, gender-sensitive education, and cultural introspection. There should be authorities intervening instead of ignoring, supporting instead of questioning, believing instead of doubting, this can bring real changes.
Ending violence against women is not an act of charity; it is a moral and legal obligation. It invariably demands a sense of collective responsibility from all individuals, institutions, governments, and communities because a society where women live in fear of violence cannot call itself just, equal, or humane, standing against violence is equal to protecting human rights. This International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women reminds everyone that promoting safety, dignity, and empowerment means choosing compassion over silence, accountability over denial, and justice over convenience. And it is important to understand that sometimes, change begins with the simplest act of listening, believing, and standing beside women, not above them.