 So, I'm going to be completely transparent and honest! I never knew this holiday existed. I've known so many female victims of violence, but never knew there was a holiday to acknowledge this! So, I began to do some research.
First off, I am so lucky to be born in the United States after the Women's rights were fought for. Susan B. Anthony was a hero of mine growing up. It also helps the fact that we share a birthday! When I found out her history as a women's rights activist before women even had rights! At 16, she began collecting petitions against slavery, what a rebel! She was also part of the Underground Railroad aiding Harriet Tubman help fugitive slaves to Canada. This women is a hero to me! But none the less, this holiday does not have anything to do with Susan B. Anthony! That's for another day! I'm going to give you the short version of this! So, in 1960 in the Dominican Republic 3 sisters, the Mirabal sisters who were political activists were assassinated on this day November 25th, 1960. The assassinations were ordered by the dictator of that time. I'm not going to give name or give credit to this horrible man! So, in 1981, the Latin American and Caribbean Feminist Encuentros marked this day to raise awareness of violence against women. So finally, in 1999 the United Nations finally encouraged other countries and governments to observe this as a national holiday! There are staggering statistics of violence towards women every year. I don't want to go into them. I know that sounds messed up, but I don't want these tags on my blog categories. I will be vague and list sexual assault, dowry death, human trafficking, and mutilation. I will leave it at that. I will not list all the violence that happens every year towards women. Instead, I would like to raise awareness, of this date, and how long it took for it to become an international holiday! May the Mirabal Sisters rest in peace, and know that they paved the way to slow down the violence against women!
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