Today, Monday, November 25, is International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The UN observes this date because it marks the brutal assassination in 1960 of the three Mirabal sisters, who were political activists in the Dominican Republic.
Last month, October was Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Take Back the Night was an evening march to show FIT’s support and commitment to end Domestic and Sexual Violence. It was the second consecutive year that our campus participated, and I for one am really proud to be a student here.
- Fact: At least one out of every three women WORLDWIDE has been beaten, forced into sex or otherwise abused in her lifetime by a partner, relative, friend, stranger, employer, and/or colleague.
- Figure: FIT has 9,848 enrolled undergraduate students; of these 84% are women. So let’s do the math, about 8,272 of them are women, this means that around 2,757 women have encountered some type of violence.
-
Campaign from UN Women places popular search terms about women in front of portraits.
- Fact: Of these crimes, less than 50% are reported to the police.
- Figure: FIT has countless resources to help you or anyone you know get through this situation such as The Counseling Center, Health Services, Security, Residential Life, and the Dean of Students Office. On Page 40 of the student handbook, there is a list of offices and phone numbers that you can contact.
To end, a word from our keynote speaker of the event, treasurer and vice president for Finance and Administration, Sherry F. Brabham:
But you should really look in the face of every person here tonight – because we are all here because we have inherited our great grandmother’s prescient vision of a right for every woman, child – and man — to her own – our own physical integrity. We are here to support you. We are here to remind ourselves. We are here to usher in a new day.
Join us next year and take a step towards ending violence! (any kind really)
Carpe Diem,
Sadie