Press release from the International organisation of francophonie – 24 November 2018To mark the International day for the elimination of violence against women on 25 November 2018, thousands of women in the French-speaking world got together and marched for the elimination of violence and devastating offences against the physical and psychological integrity of girls and women.
“Sexism, discrimination, inequality and non-respect of women’s rights and freedom are unfortunately the most widespread practices in the world. This is what UN General Secretary Antonio Guterres also confirms and describes as “a worldwide pandemic, a stigma attached to our societies and a major obstacle for fair, sustainable, inclusive development – and I congratulate him for doing so”, said Michaëlle Jean, general secretary for the Francophonie, and a long-standing activist for the elimination of violence against women.
Building on its Strategy for promotion of equality between women and men, and the rights and empowerment of girls and women – adopted in Erevan at the 17th Summit of Heads of State and government, “the International organisation of francophonie (OIF) is committed to a general mobilisation, in all its actions and programmes, for zero tolerance of all these offences against women and girls, which are injustices, crimes, obstacles and above all, a dishonour”, stresses Michaëlle Jean.
It should be noted that on the sidelines of the Erevan Summit, the general secretary and Ms. Pramila Patten, the UN general secretary’s special representative on the issue of sexual violence during periods of conflict, signed a Framework agreement aimed at mutual strengthening of initiatives and projects to combat sexual violence used as a weapon of war and terrorist tactic.
GRET is among the INGOs accredited by the OIF in 2018.
