November 25 is International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

Women's activists have marked November 25 as a day against violence since 1981. This date was chosen because it marks the day of the brutal assassination in 1960 of the three Mirabal sisters, political activists in the Dominican Republic, on orders of Dominican ruler Rafael Trujillo (1930-1961).

In 1999, the United Nations General Assembly designated 25 November as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and invited governments, international organizations and NGOs to organize activities designed to raise public awareness of the problem on that day.

Violence against women continues to be a global pandemic. Up to 70% of women experience violence in their lifetime, according to the United Nations website.

In Alaska, according to the Alaska Victimization Survey 2010 statewide results:

• 58.6% of Alaska women experienced at least one incident of intimate partner violence or sexual violence over their lifetime.
• 11.8% experienced at least one incident of intimate partner violence or sexual violence during the last year prior to the survey.

Regional results for the AVS are also available.