(ANS - Rome) – In a satement issued in Rome, the Rector Major of the Salesians, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, said: "In line with the mission we received from the outset from Don Bosco when he founded the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, and our commitment to educative care for young people, today, 25 November, we as the Salesian Family join the celebration of  international Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and we do so as educators of the young, male and female.”

In a press conference held in New York to present the objectives of the International Day, three areas were highlighted:

• create safe spaces where girls can live without worry or fear.
• establish a culture of respect for women;
• end violence against women and girls.

In the press conference, Michelle Bachelet, Deputy Secretary General and Executive Director of UN Women, the UN agency set up recently, said that "violence influences negatively on the educational attainment of women, their ability to work successfully and on their public life. It distances society gradually from attaining  gender equality."

Speaking of the importance of the education of young people, male and female, Fr Á.F. Artime added: "We want to help young people to grow in respect for the dignity of women, of all women: their own  mothers, sisters, friends and colleagues; and we want to help them not to imitate unworthy models and unacceptable pattterns of behaviour. We seek to help young females to assert their rights and dignity and to demand the respect they deserve as the equals of males."

The Rector Major concluded: "We promote this attitude in all Salesian works throughout the world and we call on governments to continue to advance in the move towards adequate laws to protect the dignity of girls and women, young and old."

Published 25/11/2014