Al-Khoei Foundation’s statement on International Day for the

Elimination of Violence against Women, 25 November 2014 

The Al-Khoei Foundation recognises that today, on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, there are still too many women facing aggression and brutality in public and private, and that more must be done to address this growing crisis. According to data gathered by the United Nations in 2013, it is estimated that 35% of women globally experience either physical or sexual violence in some form, including forced marriage, female genital mutilation and physical and sexual abuse. Some national studies put this figure to as high as 70% of women.

The underlying cause of much of this violence stems from a lack of respect towards women and a general belief in their inferiority. The Al-Khoei Foundation strongly believes that to counter this mindset, more must be done to allow women to participate in all facets of public life, at both the domestic and