Welcome to Breaking Down Patriarchy. I'm Amy McPhee All the Best.

Today's topic may be difficult for some listeners. We will be talking about violence against women,

including all kinds of physical and sexual violence. The essential text we are discussing is

the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women, given at the United Nations in 1993.

And we're including it in this history-based project on systemic patriarchy,

because throughout history, violence against women and particularly domestic abuse

was seen as a private matter, sometimes and in some places even endorsed by the state.

But even when it wasn't promoted by the state, patriarchal institutions have condoned or disregarded

violence against women, looking the other way and failing to protect victims and survivors,

and instead protecting the perpetrators of that violence.

Even the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women or CEDA in 1979,

and listeners should look that up if you haven't heard of it.

It's an incredibly important milestone in the protection of just women against discrimination,

but even CDA neglected to address violence against women.

So in 1993, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted this new resolution, the

Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

And we'll be sharing passages from this declaration today.

It's an incredibly important text, and in addition, we'll be sharing important, difficult stories that require a lot of strength.

My reading partners and I went over this content in a very detailed way beforehand so that they could choose what they wanted to talk about.

And I'm really honored and grateful for this amazing mother-daughter team, Elena and Abby Gonzalez.

Hi, Elena and Abby.

Hello.

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