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Posted: 11/21/19

TAMIU Sets International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls Observance Monday, Nov. 25

 

Dr. Irma Cantú
Dr. Irma Cantú  

Texas A&M International University’s (TAMIU) College of Arts and Sciences’ department of Humanities faculty and students will present a commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls Monday, Nov. 25 at 11:30 am. in the Student Center Rotunda.

The event, free and open to the public, features a reading of Maya Angelou’s poem, “Still I Rise” and presentations on awareness and prevention of violence against women and girls.

Doreen Hale, Webb County 341st District Court bailiff and South Texas Regional Police Academy instructor, will  present “Warning Signs of Dating Violence.”

Dr. Irma Cantú, TAMIU associate professor of Spanish and lead event organizer,  said that the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls is a date designated by the United Nations as part of its multi-year effort aimed at preventing and eliminating violence against women and girls. It will focus on the issue of rape as a specific form of harm committed against women and girls in times of peace or war.

“Last year, my students and I initiated this new tradition at TAMIU commemorating the International Day of Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls,” Dr. Cantú said, “One of the best ways to honor victims and survivors of violence and sexual assault against women and girls is to raise awareness about this horrific social problem and to provide information and support as a preventive measure.  We encourage the community to join us in this global effort and to be a part of a movement that condemns violence against women and girls.”

According to the United Nations, violence against women and girls is one of the most widespread, persistent and devastating human rights violations in our world today and remains largely unreported due to the impunity, silence, stigma and shame surrounding it.

In general terms, it manifests itself in physical, sexual and psychological forms encompassing intimate partner violence, sexual violence and harassment, human trafficking, female genital mutilation and child marriage.

Those participating in the event are encouraged to wear purple, the color assigned by the United Nations for this commemoration.

Other TAMIU event organizers include the Club de Español, League of Empowered Women, and the Office of International Engagement.

For more information, please contact Cantú at 956.326.2657, email irma.cantu@tamiu.edu, or visit offices located in the Academic Innovation Center, room 332.

University office hours are 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

TAMIU is celebrating its 50th Anniversary and its 25th Anniversary at its north Laredo campus throughout 2019-2020.  A dedicated website shares the University’s transformation from a hybrid upper-level university to a full doctoral degree-granting University. It includes a calendar of Anniversary events and more at tamiu.edu/50.

For more on the University’s story, contact the TAMIU Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at 956.326.2180, email prmis@tamiu.edu, click on tamiu.edu or visit offices in the Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library, room 268.