Dubai joins global campaign to end violence against women

There will also be a focus on women’s mental health and well-being during the Covid-19 pandemic

Buildings and monuments in the UAE illuminated in orange in solidarity with the UN campaign to eliminate violence against women in 2019. Wam

A campaign to end gender-based violence has been launched by the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children.

The sixth Violence Against Women campaign will begin on Wednesday to coincide with the International Day of Violence Against Women, also known as Orange Day, and will run until December 10.

This year, there will be a focus on women’s mental health and well-being during the Covid-19 pandemic.

We live in a country that values the status of women and recognises the importance of their role in building society

Experts will also shed light on how a poor work-life balance could create additional stress, resulting in emotional, mental or other types of abuse of women by people around them.

To raise awareness, the foundation will light up its buildings in orange for the first week of the campaign, hold a series of online lectures, share awareness tips and release podcasts on their social media accounts with the hashtag #NewNormal.

Last year, landmarks across the Emirates such as Burj Khalifa, the General Women's Union and Adnoc in Abu Dhabi were lit up orange in a show of solidarity.

“We live in a country that values the status of women and recognises the importance of their role in building society, and our wise leadership has placed women in the highest leadership positions in the country,” said Sheikha Al Mansouri, acting director general of the foundation.

“In this context, we launched the sixth campaign to highlight the importance of women's issues, how to deal with them and educate the public on how to support women in their lives.

The Burj Khalifa is lit up in orange in solidarity with the United Nations campaign to eliminate violence against women. WAM

Buildings and monuments in the UAE illuminated in orange in solidarity with the United Nations campaign to eliminate violence against women. WAM

The 16 days of Activism spanning from International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 25 November, through Human Rights Day on 10 December, are an annual campaign against gender-based violence.. WAM

Elsewhere, Bamyan in Afghanistan's central highlands as the Buddha sites destroyed by the Taliban glow as part of International Day to End Violence Against Women. Twitter/ @UNAMAnews

A Palestinian woman gets on a ride with her children at Gaza City's fishing port during activities marking International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. AP Photo

A cat seemingly relaxed while women doing their stretching exercise during a class in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) in Giza, south-west of Cairo. Some of the women attending the class joined because of personal experiences they made and to defend themselves against potential harassment. In December 1999 the United Nations made November 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. EPA

Women going through their exercise during a class in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) in Giza, south-west of Cairo on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. EPA

Women going through their exercise during a class in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) in Giza, south-west of Cairo the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. EPA

Women take part in a protest against violence towards women in Rabat, Morocco. EPA

Women take part in a protest against violence towards women in Rabat, Morocco. EPA

"We are proud of the great support we receive from our beloved country and our leaders, and we also invite all members of the community to contribute to support this campaign by participating in these events and spreading awareness to as many members of the community as possible."

In a recent legal overhaul of personal and family law in the UAE, a number of amendments seeking to protect the rights of women were made.

‘Honour crimes’, where a male relative can get a lighter sentence for assaulting a female relative under the excuse of ‘protecting honour’, will be treated as any other assault.

There will be tougher punishments for men who subject women to harassment of any kind.

The punishment for the rape of a minor or someone with limited mental capacity will be execution.

In 2018, 1,027 cases of abuse were reported across the Emirates by the foundation.

In 72 per cent of cases, husbands were reported as being the abusers. Every single case involved verbal abuse and 7 per cent of the cases also reported sexual abuse.

Financial abuse was also cited in 58 per cent of the domestic violence cases.