"International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women"
Tarih: Date
The lifeless bodies of Patria, Minerva, and Maria Teresa Mirabal, three sisters who fought against the fascist Trujillo Government in the Dominican Republic and were targeted by Trujillo by saying, “The biggest problem of the country is the church and the Mirabal sisters,” were found at the bottom of a cliff on November 25, 1960. It was understood that their vehicle was stopped while they were going somewhere; they were sexually assaulted, beaten with a stick, and then thrown off a cliff. However, these deaths were recorded as “traffic accidents” and not as murders resulting from state and male violence.
Ever since 1999, November 25 has been recognized as the "International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women" in honor of the Mirabal Sisters. Women in numerous countries have taken to the streets, organized events, and spoken out against state and male violence. Today, this day holds special significance for our center, as we have been dedicated to preventing all forms of violence against women since 2018. We believe that the fight "not to lose one more person" cannot be separated from the aspect of fascism that Ingeborg Bachmann highlighted in an interview: “[Fascism] does not start with the first bombs that are dropped; it does not start with the terror you can write about, in every newspaper. It begins in relations between people. Fascism is the primary element in the relationship between a man and a woman."
We want to reiterate that we stand with all female members of our university during the pandemic, as violence against women has risen, and we will continue to strengthen our struggle every day.
Illustration: Rita Petruccioli