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UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday highlighted the need to tackle violence against woman. "Every woman and every girl has the right to a life free of violence. Yet this rupture of human rights occurs in a variety of ways in every community. It particularly affects those who are most marginalized and most vulnerable," Guterres said, according to Xinhua report.

The UN chief made the remarks at a gathering to commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, which falls on Nov. 25. Around the world, more than one in three women face violence throughout their lifetime; 750 million women were married before age 18, and more than 250 million have undergone female genital mutilation, he noted.

Women's rights activists are being targeted at alarming levels; violence against women politicians impedes progress on women's civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights; and horrifying sexual violence in conflict shows no sign of abating, said the UN chief. "There is increasing recognition that violence against women is a major barrier to the fulfilment of human rights, and a direct challenge to women's inclusion and participation in sustainable development and sustaining peace. There is also increasing evidence that violence against women and girls is linked to other attacks, including violent extremism and even terrorism."