“We proclaim Valentine’s Day as V-Day until the violence against women stops, and then it will become Victory Day.” – Eve Ensler, author of The Vagina Monologues
Two American presidential top aides resigned last week amid reports of domestic violence. White House staff secretary Rob Porter stepped down on Wednesday after both of his former wives accused him of spousal abuse. Two days later, on Friday, President Donald Trump’s speechwriter David Sorensen also left following his ex-wife’s allegations of physical and emotional abuse.
The White House controversies came just days before women’s rights activists around the world take part in the V-Day/One Billion Rising campaign on 14 February to raise awareness about gender-based violence. The United Nations has declared that violence against women and girls is one of the most prevalent human rights violations. It is estimated thatmore than one-third of women worldwide – or around one billion of them – will have experienced either physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime, usually from a male partner.
Gender-based violence in our city, one of the “safest” places in the world, is much more prevalent than we likely think. Hong Kong – along with Japan – has the world’s highest rate of female homicide victims, with women comprising 52.9% of homicide victims – followed by South Korea, at 52.5%.
Hong Kong police statistics show there were 1,077 reported cases of sexual assault in 2017, but this is just the tip of the iceberg. A 2013 study by the Hong Kong Women’s Coalition on Equal Opportunities revealed that 90% of women who had been sexually assaulted chose not to report the incident. Various factors, such as social stigma, trauma, fear of retribution, and lack of access to information and services, play a role in discouraging survivors from seeking help.
At TWF we are determined not to be bowed or discouraged by the tidal wave of stories on sexual assault and harassment in the past several months. We are preparing a series of talks and other initiatives to discuss the implications of the #MeToo movement in Hong Kong and how we can better protect women and girls.
The root cause of gender-based violence – from domestic abuse to dating violence to sexual harassment, rape and human trafficking – is gender inequality and stereotypes. As victims and survivors are emboldened to come forward, we should stand in solidarity and tell predators that their time is up. Hong Kong needs to make ending gender-based violence and sexual harassment a priority, and we cannot rest easy until we eradicate all forms of abuse against women. Let us all work together to drive change in Hong Kong and beyond.
The White House controversies came just days before women’s rights activists around the world take part in the V-Day/One Billion Rising campaign on 14 February to raise awareness about gender-based violence. The United Nations has declared that violence against women and girls is one of the most prevalent human rights violations. It is estimated thatmore than one-third of women worldwide – or around one billion of them – will have experienced either physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime, usually from a male partner.
Gender-based violence in our city, one of the “safest” places in the world, is much more prevalent than we likely think. Hong Kong – along with Japan – has the world’s highest rate of female homicide victims, with women comprising 52.9% of homicide victims – followed by South Korea, at 52.5%.
Hong Kong police statistics show there were 1,077 reported cases of sexual assault in 2017, but this is just the tip of the iceberg. A 2013 study by the Hong Kong Women’s Coalition on Equal Opportunities revealed that 90% of women who had been sexually assaulted chose not to report the incident. Various factors, such as social stigma, trauma, fear of retribution, and lack of access to information and services, play a role in discouraging survivors from seeking help.
At TWF we are determined not to be bowed or discouraged by the tidal wave of stories on sexual assault and harassment in the past several months. We are preparing a series of talks and other initiatives to discuss the implications of the #MeToo movement in Hong Kong and how we can better protect women and girls.
The root cause of gender-based violence – from domestic abuse to dating violence to sexual harassment, rape and human trafficking – is gender inequality and stereotypes. As victims and survivors are emboldened to come forward, we should stand in solidarity and tell predators that their time is up. Hong Kong needs to make ending gender-based violence and sexual harassment a priority, and we cannot rest easy until we eradicate all forms of abuse against women. Let us all work together to drive change in Hong Kong and beyond.
As usual we would love to hear from you. Get in touch at Fiona.Nott@twfhk.org.
