FIFA and the World Health Organization have teamed up to raise awareness about domestic violence and support those at risk, during the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence. The campaign kicks off during today's International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and will run until Human Rights Day on Friday 10 December.
"Violence is never the answer, especially at home, which should be a safe environment for everyone, and particularly for women and children," said FIFA President Gianni Infantino. "It is FIFA's statutory obligation to respect all internationally recognised human rights and as an organisation, FIFA shall strive to promote the protection of these rights. The #SafeHome campaign is now in its second year, and FIFA will continue to make football's voice heard to amplify this message until these acts are no longer part of our society."
"The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated many health challenges and inequities, including violence against women," said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. "We all must come together to end all forms of violence and discrimination. WHO is pleased to team up with FIFA and football stars around the world to help prevent violence against women, and children, support survivors, and make our societies safer and healthier for all."
Violence against women remains devastatingly pervasive and starts alarmingly young, according to data from WHO. Across their lifetime, one in three women aged 15 and over, around 736 million, are subjected to physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner or sexual violence from a non-partner - a number that has remained largely unchanged over the past decade.
This violence starts early: one in four young women (aged 15-24 years) who have been in a relationship will have already experienced violence by an intimate partner by the time they reach their mid-twenties. Data suggests women's exposure to violence has likely increased during the COVID-19 pandemic due to lockdowns and disruptions to vital support services.
Violence - in all its forms - can have an impact on a person's health and well-being throughout their life. It is associated with increased risk of injuries, depression, anxiety disorders, unplanned pregnancies, sexually-transmitted infections including HIV and many other health problems, and comes with tremendous costs to households, communities and societies as a whole.
