Eliminating violence against women: a commitment to pursuing justice

UNITED NATIONS, New York - In an address to the UN General Assembly, INTERPOL's Special Representative to the United Nations, Roraima Andriani, has underscored the Organization's commitment to combatting crimes against women and to pursuing justice on their behalf.

Speaking on the UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, she highlighted INTERPOL's efforts to dismantle the networks that profit from crimes such as human trafficking, sexual and other types of exploitation which disproportionately affect women and girls.

Special Representative Andriani said:

"Violence against women takes many forms - physical, emotional, financial, and increasingly, digital. Reporting abuse demands extraordinary courage, and many women struggle to take that step. We have a duty to support those who do, ensuring their safety, protection, and recovery.

INTERPOL's Special Representative shared the story of Rita Roberts, a young woman whose body was found in Belgium in 1992. She had been violently murdered and remained unidentified for 31 years.

Thanks to INTERPOL's Identify Me campaign, an international public appeal for information led to a tip from the United Kingdom that restored the victim's identity, giving her family answers and renewing hope for justice.

Identify Me aims to identify and return unknown deceased women to their families, highlighting the issue of missing and murdered women and girls who are disproportionately represented amongst unidentified deceased persons.

According to the UN, one in three women worldwide has experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime.

INTERPOL's work to help protect vulnerable communities worldwide - particularly in the areas of human trafficking and sexual exploitation - directly supports the UN's 2030 Sustainable Development Goals by addressing violence against women and girls.

Its activities promoting global policing goals, law enforcement cooperation, and victim-centered investigations are driven by a gender equality perspective.