Ending Violence Against Women

     Perhaps you know a woman who has been the victim of violence...perhaps you are that woman.  If so, you are no stranger to this topic.  Or maybe, you don't think that any of the women you know has been a victim of violence, sexual or otherwise and that this is all a lot of hype.  Well, think again.

     Violence against women and girls continues unabated in every continent, country and culture. It takes a devastating toll on women’s lives, on their families, and on society as a whole. Most societies prohibit such violence — yet the reality is that too often, it is covered up or tacitly condoned.                                                                                                          — UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, 8 March 2007

     Here are the facts as published by the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM):

• At least 1 out of 3 women in the world has been beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused in her lifetime.
• For women aged 15-44, violence is a major cause of disability or death.
• In a 1994 study, World Bank data showed that women age 15-44 had a greater risk of becoming victims of rape and domestic violence than they did of suffering cancer or being involved in a motor vehicle accident.
• 1 in 5 women will become a victim of rape in her lifetime.
• The World Health Organization reports that as many of 50% or more of women in countries such as Bangladesh and Ethiopia report being subjected to physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner.  Japan was the only country who had less than 20% of women reporting incidents of domestic violence.  Even in Japan, which seems to have the lowest incidence, this means that 1 in 5 women reported being a victim of domestic violence.  Many incidents go unreported.
• In fact, based on several surveys, half of the women who are murdered are killed by their current of former husband or partner.

     Women the world over are at significant risk of becoming the victims of violence.  They are not only victims of strangers but often of those they trust most. Fortunately, the plague of violence against women is finally getting the attention it deserves.

     UNIFEM, the United Nations Development Fund for Women, has been working hard to provide technical and financial assistance to innovative programs that foster women's empowerment and gender equality.  Their four areas of focus are:

1. To reduce feminized poverty.
2. To end violence against women.
3. To reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS amongst women and girls.
4. To achieve gender equality in democratic governance.

     In order to end violence against women, the UN announced on February 25th their campaign UNite to End Violence Against Women.  UNIFEM is managing this worldwide effort to end sexual and gender-based violence against women.  They have raised a significant amount of money but are striving to raise $100 million dollars (US) by the year 2015.

     Now that the war on violence against women has really begun in earnest...it is up to all of us to help.  There are always a variety of ways to lend your support.  You can lend a hand by simply adding your name to the Internet-based advocacy effort "Say No to Violence Against Women".   Click on the link below:

http://www.saynotoviolence.org/

  Or, if you would rather make a donation to UNIFEM, click here and it will take you directly to UNIFEM's donation page.

Comments

[Willie]

Domestic violence is a scourge. It is all about power and control. the batterer controlling his/her victim (yes there are female batterers of their male partners) If they don't have the control they try to gain it. There are many tools at their disposal, from money, to controlling their time etc.

Most don't recognize it when they see it, and think it's only DV when there is physical violence. One incident related to me was a husband and wife at a softball game. She did something he didn't like, and he smiled and handed her a sweatshirt and said "Here honey, put this on.It's getting cold." No big deal right? Wrong. She was scared. That was a signal, she was in for it when they got home.

DV isn't anger, it's power and control and education is the key.

[Lori@betweenusgirls]

Willie,

You're right, most violence is about control, domestic violence in particular. Thanks also for the reminder that the victims aren't always women. It's important to remember the men and children who are also suffering.

[Holly]

That is a really moving video, thanks for sharing it. I also really enjoy your site.

[Lori@betweenusgirls]

Holly,

The video really is moving, isn't it? I found myself getting choked up watching it...it's a powerful combination of music and images.

I'm glad you're enjoying my site. Thanks so much for the comments.