Violence against women remains a socially accepted but hidden issue in many parts of the world. Source: High Definition Photos and WallpapersCairo, 5 March 2013 – International Women’s Day is celebrated annually on 8 March to celebrate achievements and highlight gaps in women and girls’ equality worldwide. The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is “A promise is a promise: Time for action to end violence against women”.

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, to which most countries in the Region are signatory, commits Member States to ensuring the equitable delivery of reproductive health services and to protecting women and girls against violence, child marriage and harmful practices, such as female genital mutilation.

Article 12 of the Convention states that, “States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in the field of health care in order to ensure, on a basis of equality of men and women, access to health care services, including those related to family planning” and “… shall ensure to women appropriate services in connection with pregnancy, confinement and the post-natal period, granting free services where necessary, as well as adequate nutrition during pregnancy and lactation”.