Shocking: 73 percent of Indian women face violence or harassment in October

According to a latest survey done by the NGO--ActionAid--nearly 73 percent of women in India have experienced some form of violence or harassment in October.

New Delhi, Nov 25: These figures are definitely shocking.

According to a latest survey done by the NGO--ActionAid--nearly 73 percent of women in India have experienced some form of violence or harassment in October.

During the survey, more than one in four women said that they had been groped in the past month.

"More than four in 10 women (41%) in India experience harassment or violence before the age of 19," adds the survey.

The survey was done as a part of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women observed across the world on Friday (November 25).

Violence against women and girls is a worldwide menace.

According to figures, around the world, a third of women have experienced either sexual or physical violence - mostly at the hands of an intimate partner.

Millions more are subjected to female genital mutilation (FGM), child marriage and sexual harassment--all of which undermine the basic civil rights of women and girls, from health to security.

The United Nations General Assembly has designated November 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

The idea of the day is to raise awareness of the fact that women around the world are subjected to rape, domestic violence and other forms of violence.

"Violence against women and girls is a human rights violation, public health pandemic and serious obstacle to sustainable development. It imposes large-scale costs on families, communities and economies. The world cannot afford to pay this price," said Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General.

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