November 25th, 2026

The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is observed on November 25 to raise awareness of the violence that women and girls face around the world and to call for action to end it. The United Nations General Assembly designated the day in December 1999. The date honors the three Mirabal sisters, political activists who were murdered on November 25, 1960, on the orders of Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo; activists in Latin America had marked the date since 1981. According to the World Health Organization, about one in three women worldwide experiences physical or sexual violence in her lifetime, most often from an intimate partner. The day also opens the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, which run until Human Rights Day on December 10, and buildings and landmarks around the world are lit in orange as a symbol of a future free from violence. In the United States, the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 created federal programs to support survivors and hold abusers accountable, and the National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233) offers free, confidential help around the clock. Communities mark the day with marches, vigils, and campaigns that support survivors and promote respect and equality.