The Butterflies’ Legacy and the Fight for an End to Violence Against Women

November 25 marked the 24th International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women — this day also marked the beginning of the United Nation’s UNiTE campaign, which is a 16-day long initiative to end violence against women and girls and will conclude on International Human Rights Day on December 10. 

Historically, this date is based on the 1960 assassination of the Mirabal sisters — three political activists in the Dominican Republic who fought in opposition of Rafael Trujillo’s dictatorship. Patria, Minerva, and María Teresa Mirabal put their lives on the line for their work in the resistance. Before her death, Minerva said “If they kill me, I’ll reach my arms out from the tomb and I’ll be stronger.” She has since then fulfilled this promise. The legacy of these three sisters, who became known as the Butterflies, continued into the day that is recognized as the Internationlal Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. 

As we commemorate the bravery of these women as they laid down their lives to resist repression and violence against women, we continue to see the violence that women across the world are being forced to face.

In Italy, over 100 women have been murdered so far this year. Nearly half of the women were killed by their partner or ex-partner. The Italian Statistics Institute (ISTAT) found that 31.5 percent of women faced sexual of physical violence and 5.4 percent were victims of series sexual violence, including rape. 

In Spain, protesters have taken to the streets in the fight to end violence against women. As protesters marched down Gran Via in Madrid, many wore purple, carried banners, and chanted “No is no, anything else is rape.” Since statistics began to consider fatalities in Spain in 2003, over 1,171 women died due to gender based violence. In 2002 so far alone, 38 women have died. 

In France, three women were killed in separate instances on the first day of 2022. Each woman was killed by an ex-partner. Despite laws on violence against women and girls, such as laws on sexual harassment in employment, other countries like Greece opposed an amendment that would have institutionally established recognition of the term ‘femicide.’17 women were killed in Greece in 2021.’ 

While isolation during the COVID-19 lockdown was intended to protect the vulnerable, it proved to be deadly for some. This reality has become known as what the UN calls the ‘shadow pandemic’, in which violence against women and girls rapidly accelerated during lockdown. According to a UN report, 45,000 women across the world were killed by their partners or other relatives in 2021.

Women across the world are facing gender based violence on a daily basis, and there is a strong need for global action to increase awareness, mobilize advocacy, and create opportunities for people to get involved in the fight to end violence against women and girls. Would the work that the Mirabal sisters, amongst many other women throughout history, not be done in vain, but would their legacy advance the right against such widespread and devastating human rights violations. 

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