Human Rights are rights we have simply because we exist as human beings. They are not granted by any state or organisation and are inherent to us all, regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. They range from the most basic – the right to life, through to those rights that make our lives worth living, e.g. the rights to food, liberty, education and health.
December 10th is Human Rights Day, and marks the anniversary of the United Nations’ adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights(UDHR).
This date also marks the final day of our 16 Days of Activism against gender based violence (GBV). GBV undermines a person’s sense of self-worth and self-esteem, affecting both physical and mental health, and can result in loss of life.
In 2022, the UN reported that nearly 89,000 women and girls were killed intentionally – the highest yearly number in the past two decades. Most of these deaths are gender related and committed by intimate partners or family members. A 2024 Japanese government survey found that 1 in 5 people reported partner abuse while dating, again the highest proportion ever.
Across our campaign, we have been bringing you the thoughts of Kazuko Ito, SARC Tokyo, Nia Lyte, Spring, and Professor Machiko Osawa about violence against women and girls (VAWG) in Japan. We encourage you to view and share our posts on social media to draw attention to the issue, the vital changes that are required, and some resources and services available to victim-survivors. We don’t want anyone to have to face this alone.
On December 10th, we want to highlight the fundamental human right to live free from violence, feeling safe and secure. To mark Human Rights Day, we are asking you to join TELL and #PutOnPurple, raising awareness of the issue of GBV and the tragic impact it can have on the lives of women and girls.
Every person that #PutsOnPurple and makes a ¥500 donation helps us raise vital funds to continue our work at TELL and shows your support for the elimination of GBV.
For more information, please visit our event page.
1 GENDER-RELATED KILLINGS OF WOMEN AND GIRLS (FEMICIDE/FEMINICIDE), UN Women March 2023; https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/2023-11/gender-related-killings-of-women-and-girls-femicide-feminicide-global-estimates-2022-en.pdf [Accessed 10/15, 2024].
2 https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/03/27/japan/society/physical-abuse-government-survey/
3 If you or anyone you know has been affected by GBV, support is available via our Lifeline and counselling services. Other resources can also be found on the TELL website.
4 We acknowledge that all genders, including men, can be affected by gender based violence, and this should not be neglected.