Let International Women's Day inspire change

On the occasion of International Women's Day, we celebrate worldwide the contribution of women to the development of our societies. However, as underlined by this year's Women's Day's motto, "Inspire change", women and girls around the world continue to experience discrimination and violence in their everyday lives: this must change.

Discrimination and violence against women are a global scourge. In the absence of effective remedy, acts of violence against women far too often remain unpunished. According to a 2013 global review, 35 percent of women worldwide experienced violence. Europe and China are no exception. Knowing and recognizing this reality is the first step in addressing the problem.

Violence against women violates fundamental rights. Too often, it is wrongly perceived as a "private" issue or condoned on grounds of tradition. However, apart from serious consequences for the health of victims, such as the spread of HIV and unwanted pregnancies, violence against women and girls also entails significant negative consequences and economic costs.