End gender-based and sexual violence: second edition of the Geneva campaign | City of Geneva

The 2024 campaign, entitled “Sexist and sexual violence: let’s put an end to it!”, will be deployed throughout the canton between November 11 and 30, 2024through a large program of events and public displays, to remind people of the urgency of collective mobilization.

Every year, the International Day for the Elimination of Gender-Based and Sexual Violence November 25 marks a high point in mobilizations for the promotion of equality and the defense of the rights of women and gender minorities, both locally and internationally. Sexist and sexual violence are not isolated incidents between individuals, but a structural phenomenon and a real social problem.

The statistics demonstrate the scale and diversity of experiences of violence:

• At cantonal level, 80% of major victims of domestic violence supported by the Geneva network in 2023 were women. 91% of adult victims and 78% of minor victims of sexual violence in a family or couple context were women.
• In 2023, 21 feminicides and 4 attempted feminicides have been recorded in Switzerland.
• Also in 2023, 305 hate crimes were recorded against LGBTQIA+ people in Switzerland: 70% of cases are linked to verbal violence, and 21% to physical violence. 40% of the cases recorded concern trans* people (binary or non-binary).
• In a 2019 Swiss survey of women over the age of 16, 59% of respondents experienced a form of contact harassment (unwanted contact, hugs or kisses) and 22% experienced non-consensual sexual acts.
• According to the World Health Organization, nearly one in three women worldwide have experienced physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime and a third of women aged 15 to 49 have suffered physical and/or sexual violence as a couple.

A campaign to raise awareness and mobilize

In Geneva, 38 partners – including the canton, the City, feminist associations and other institutional actors – are uniting for the second edition of the campaign “Sexist and sexual violence: let’s put an end to it!”.

“You are witnesses”, “we believe you”, “you are not alone”, “it’s my right to say no”: through a multitude of voices, and various typographies, the 2024 campaign emphasizes collective responsibility, addressing all those concerned, whether they experience, carry out or witness violence. The campaign’s messages encourage the general public to get involved, victims to feel supported, and perpetrators to question themselves. They also legitimize the action of witnesses in the face of violence
sexist and sexual.

This year, the campaign will be visible throughdisplay in the streets of the City of Genevain several other municipalities in the canton, in shopping centers, post offices, in public transport and taxis, as well as in secondary education establishments in the canton of Geneva. A rich and diverse programming ofexhibitions, performance, meetings, conferences, round tables, workshops And symbolic actions is offered to the general public, but also targets people suffering or having suffered violence, perpetrators, as well as witnesses.

Online resources for information and action

At the same time, the campaign website, www.25noveve-geneve.chlaunched last year, constitutes a real “toolbox” accessible throughout the year. Constantly improving, it not only hosts the campaign programmingbut also offers practical resources to get help with different forms of violencewhile highlighting the richness of the Geneva network. It offers information on prevention programs and toolsas well as statisticsA lexicon and one bibliography. These resources allow everyone to better understand the issues related to the fight against violence.

Acting together to eliminate gender-based and sexual violence

Although the scale of the phenomenon and its structural causes may seem discouraging,Progress is possible as evidenced by certain recent developments. “Equality cannot be decreed, it is built and maintained on a daily basis and over time,” underlines Nathalie Fontanet, president of the Council of State. “Fighting against violence means promoting equality all year round and at all levels: at home, at school, in the political sphere, in the professional world and even in public spaces.”

Alfonso Gomez, administrative advisor in charge of equality in the City of Geneva, adds that, “if levers exist at different levels, strong institutional measures are essential to move forward. Everyone can also mobilize and each action, no matter how modest However, it is important that we men in particular must play an active role.”