Queen Camilla gave a powerful speech at a Buckingham Palace reception, saying that those gathered were “uniting today to confront, rightly, what has rightly been called a global pandemic of violence against women.”
The Queen hosted a gathering of advocates, activists, survivors and world leaders as the United Nations marks 16 days of activism against gender-based violence. Conferences are held in London to discuss ways to end gender-based violence.
Queen Mathilde of the Belgians, Queen Rania of Jordan, Crown Princess Mary and the Countess of Wessex were on hand to join Queen Camilla for this powerful gathering.
In a speech, Queen Camilla demonstrated why 16 days of activism is important, noting: “Because over a period of 16 days, worldwide, more than 2,000 women will be killed by a partner or a member of their own family. Because, in England and Wales alone, during that same period, police will record that more than 3,000 women have been raped. And because up to 1 in 3 women across the globe will endure domestic violence in the course of their lifetime. Behind every one of these statistics lie individual stories of human suffering and heartbreak.”
Queen Camilla also spoke of how she has long worked with survivors of domestic and sexual violence, recalling, “Over the years, in my previous role, I had the privilege of meeting many survivors of rape and domestic abuse; and of sharing in the sorrow of people who had lost family members to violence. And again and again, I heard that two of the most powerful ways in which to help were to remember and to listen.”
Standing shoulder-to-shoulder amongst hundreds of advocates and survivors, Queen Camilla urged those gathered to keep pressing ahead with their work and their activism, to keep listening and to keep supporting.
The Queen said, “Armed with that hope, let us press on. Let us not lose this precious opportunity to speak up and to galvanise action that will see the end of these heinous crimes forever. With determination and courage, we will succeed.”
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