Commit, Act, Demand: We CAN End Violence
Against Women
16 Days of Activism to End Violence Against Women
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Every day, in many homes, women are beaten and abused. Far too
many die. Violence against women is not only widespread-it is often fatal.
Although the most common form of violence against women is domestic
violence, women and girls face abuse and violence at every stage of their
life. Violence against women is an extreme manifestation of gender
inequality and human rights violation. It is a global problem, deeply
ingrained in societies and has serious impacts on women's health and
well-being.
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The elimination of all forms of violence against women and
girls is a top priority for the World YWCA. In nearly
70 countries, YWCAs provide services for women facing violence and abuse.
For many women, the YWCA represents a safe space. From shelters and safe
houses run by YWCAs in the USA, Canada, Zambia and Sri Lanka to campaigns
to prevent trafficking championed by YWCAs in Finland, Belarus, Albania and
Samoa. National and local YWCAs around the world are committed to seeing an
end to violence against women. Through advocacy and services, YWCAs are
working to ensure women and girls in their communities can live lives free
of violence.
Below are four actions that governments, international organisations and
civil society can take to end violence against women:
1. Commit to safety and security for women and girls
In addition to carrying out research on the cause of violence, governments
must take steps to prevent violence before it starts. A strategic way to
prevent violence is to introduce and enforce laws that protect women-there
must be no impunity for acts of violence against women. Governments must
consider initiatives, such as the YWCA Canada 'Rose Button' campaign, that
call for actions to prevent violence before it starts.
One of the first obligations of CEDAW requires UN member states to entrench
women's human rights in their constitutional and legal systems. Raising
public awareness on laws that protect women is crucial in preventing
violence against women.
UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security calls on
UN member states to take special measures to protect women and girls from
violence, particularly in situations of armed conflict. Women's
bodies must not be used to wage war.
2. Commit to adequate funding to end violence against women
Adequate and accessible funding must be provided for services that provide
holistic care for survivors of violence. Women's right to information must
be upheld. Lack of information prevents many women from accessing services
that would support them to regain dignity in their lives.
Organisations running programmes such as shelters for women in violent
relationship, help-lines and counseling facilities must be adequately
financed to ensure their services remain reliable and accessible. As
Governments consider their strategies to deal with the global financial
crisis, funding and support for social services must not be cut or
reduced.
3. Act by partnering with civil society
Programmes such as the YWCA Week Without Violence commemorated annually in
November around the world help educate communities on the types of violence
women in their country face. A society that understands the impact and
effects of violence against women is better versed to address the issues at
government and policy level. Education on violence against women must be
integrated in programmes that reach different sectors of society including
men and boys. Governments must work with civil society to change negative
stereotypes as a strategy to prevent violence against women.
4. Demand greater understanding of the intersectionality of HIV and VAW
Socio-economic factors and legal challenges that put many HIV-positive
women at risk of violence must be addressed. The World YWCA is particular
concerned about recent laws some countries are adopting that criminalize
HIV. These laws have a particular impact on women and leave them vulnerable
to violence. Governments, international organisations and civil society
must demand that laws and policies that uphold women's human rights are
implemented in order to protect women from violence.
During the 16 days of activism to end violence against women, the World
YWCA joins with the global community to call for an end to violence against
women and ensure women and girls can live lives free of violence.
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The World YWCA is a
global network of women and young women leading social and economic change
in 125 countries. It advocates for peace, justice, human rights and care of
the environment, and has been at the forefront of raising the status of
women for over a century. The World YWCA develops women's leadership to
find local solutions to the global inequalities women face. Each year, it
reaches more than 25 million women and girls through work in over 22,000
communities. This grassroots development experience shapes the
organisation's global advocacy agenda. The World YWCA work is inspired by
Christian principles and a commitment to women's full and equal
participation in society. It is a volunteer membership movement inclusive
of women from many faiths, backgrounds and cultures.
The World YWCA affirms that women's human rights are universal,
indivisible, interdependent and interrelated.
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Contact Information
email: kaburo.kobia@worldywca.org
phone: +41229296030
web: http://www.worldywca.org
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