We can make a difference by raising a generation that will not resort to violence.

This is the message of UNIFEM Executive Director Ines Alberdi as today is UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

She said we can do this by volunteering to provide services by raising funds and by raising our voices to say NO to violence against women.

Alberdi said that it is shocking that based on available country data, up to 70 percent of women experience physical or sexual violence from men in their lifetime.

According to the latest statistics released by the Fiji Women's Crisis Centre, new clients seen at the centre from 1984 right up to last month totals 8,082 while the repeat clients seen from 1991 to last month totals 9,206.

These figures are only for domestic violence and exclude the rape, sexual harassment and child abuse figures.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon said on this international day, we need to reaffirm our commitment to women's human rights and invest more in countering this violence adding we must do all it takes to end these horrific assaults once and for all.