WHEREAS, Violence against women and girls is a devastating and ongoing global crisis. According to the United Nations, at least 51,100 women were murdered by partners or family members in 2023, amounting to one woman killed every 10 minutes; and

WHEREAS, The United Nations Development Programme identifies this violence as a result of systemic gender inequality, discrimination, power imbalances, and harmful social norms. Violence against women includes not only physical abuse, but also psychological, sexual, and financial forms of harm, impacting every aspect of a woman’s life; and

WHEREAS, In response to this public health crisis, the United Nations designated November 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. This date honors the courage and sacrifice of the Mirabal sisters, political activists from the Dominican Republic who were assassinated by Dictator Rafael Trujillo for their resistance to his brutal regime; and

WHEREAS, 2025 marks the 26th anniversary of this international day of observance. Despite decades of advocacy, violence against women remains alarmingly prevalent. In California alone, 86 percent of women report having experienced some form of sexual harassment or assault in their lifetime; and

WHEREAS, Addressing this violence requires more than policy reforms. It demands a cultural transformation to dismantle the social norms and power structures that perpetuate harm and silence survivors; and

WHEREAS, Women make up 49.73 percent of the global population, yet they give birth to 100 percent of it. The California State Assembly recognizes the invaluable contributions of women to our state and to the global community, and reaffirms its commitment to ending all forms of violence against women and girls; and

WHEREAS, The United Nations urges governments to use the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women to revitalize commitments and call for accountability and action from decision-makers; now, therefore, be it