He said that the United States is committed to tackling these issues.
By Sreekanth A Nair
US Secretary of State John Kerry has lauded the efforts of Indian college students against gender-based violence. He was speaking on the occasion of International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women in Washington on November 25.
“Today we celebrate the many stories of courageous and bold action to end gender-based violence— the nuns helping people escape sex trafficking, the men in Argentina teaching boys in football clubs to treat women with respect, the businesswomen in Detroit raising money to test rape kits, and the college students in India speaking out against gender-based violence and advocating for stronger enforcement of laws and public safety,” he said.
Kerry urged that everyone should pledge to continue the efforts to support survivors, work toward prevention, and make crystal clear that gender is never a justification for violence.
Expressing anxiety over growing number of violence against women, he said, “Gender-based violence is a problem in every country around the globe, including the United States. One in three women around the world will experience gender-based violence in her lifetime.”
He said that the United States is committed to tackling these issues by strengthening the rule of law, extending a hand to survivors, and working to change outdated attitudes about women and girls.
“We’re also working with global partners to eradicate conflict-related sexual violence, and we welcome a new G7 report highlighting the power of collective action,” Kerry added.