Message by
UN-INSTRAW Director Carmen Moreno on the International Day for the Elimination
of the Violence Against Women.
Make Police and Military Best Allies
in Combating
Violence Against Women, Urges
UN-INSTRAW Director
One of every three women in the
world has been a victim of violence in her lifetime. Violence against women is
one of the four major causes of death on the planet today. Countries where 30
percent of women are being physically injured by their partners are rather the
rule than the exception.
Yet, even the most horrific of those
statistics still largely underestimates the harsh realities. How many millions
of women will never report a case of rape because of their fear of being the
ones blamed instead of the perpetrator? How many complaints will never be
reported because the police officers refuse to mingle into “domestic matters”?
How many crimes against women will remain unpunished because the voice of men is
louder than theirs?
Although figures reveal that a
majority of the crimes are perpetrated at home, UN-INSTRAW agrees with those who
believe that domestic violence goes far beyond the sphere of the household.
When a woman is assaulted, the whole
society gets hurt. The enormous costs resulting from violence against women
affect us all. Both men and women are part of the problem; both of them must be
part of the solution.
Ignoring this problem as a serious
crime and human rights violation makes the eradication or even reduction of
violence against women impossible. It has become increasingly clear that police
and military can play a crucial role in this context, either positive or
negative.
Continuous education programs such
as gender training sessions aimed towards the security sector’s stakeholders,
including police officers, military units, lawyers, judges could help to prevent
and respond to gendered insecurities and provide a better access to justice for
the victims.
Unless police and military are
willing and fully equipped to adequately deal with female specific needs, there
will be no relief for the millions of women who suffer. Making security
institutions our best allies in combating violence against women must be one of
the priority concerns of UN agencies, governments and civil society.
It should be unacceptable that those
who are educated and trained to protect civilians, especially vulnerable groups,
may pose a threat to women’s rights and security. The zero tolerance policy
towards perpetrators of sexual exploitation and abuse as well as other forms of
gender-based violence is resolutely supported by
UN-INSTRAW.
Increasing female recruitment and
addressing the under-representation of women in decision-making positions
within the security sector could also help achieve more gender sensitivity in
the police armed forces and court rooms.
Therefore, UN-INSTRAW is advocating
the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 among other
binding international agreements concerning women’s security.
Having recently published a guide on
how to create national action plans for the full implementation of this resolution INSTRAW gives concrete
and practical support to State actors in order to reduce violence against women
and to create an environment where men AND women feel
safe..
In this context, further cooperation
between UN agencies, governments and NGOs is one key for success. A couple of
years ago, UN-INSTRAW initiated the creation of a global network on gender and
security reform issues.
Now over 150 NGO practitioners,
researchers and policymakers regularly post and share information on how to
integrate a gender perspective into the policies and institutions that are
responsible for the security of nations, communities and
individuals.
Earlier this month, UN-INSTRAW and
This venue for highly-specialized
experts from all over the world plans to develop collaborative projects, such as
training materials, reports, workshops and assessment tools in order to
mainstream gender issues into SSR.
Furthermore, UN-INSTRAW takes part
actively in the sixteen days campaign on violence against women and produces
ongoing research regarding this topic. New publications on violence against
women are planned for 2007.
Yet, building bridges between the
different stakeholders of the security sector shouldn’t stop from raising
consciousness at the grassroots level.
On the occasion of the United
Nations-backed “16 Days Campaign of Activism to End Violence against Women”,
UN-INSTRAW joined other UN agencies to sponsor a theatre performance organized
by the Women’s Minister in the Dominican Republic, country where the three
Mirabal sisters were killed more than 45 years ago.
Artistic ways of expression can
effectively help gender activists reach a broader audience by conveying the
message in a clear, meaningful and eye-catching way.
People must understand that no one
is immune when it comes to violence against women. We are all at risk, either
being victims or being perpetrators. Every one of us, men and women, can decide
to make a difference to end violence against our mothers, our sisters and our
daughters.
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Press
contact:
Mr. Laurent
Duvillier
Media & Communications
Specialist
Tel: 1 809-685-2111 ext. 227