You may not know it but today is a good news day for women - 25 November is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, which launches the 16 days of activism against gender violence. Sixteen days of women and men all over the world tackling a global - but largely secret - scandal. Where's the good news? After years of lobbying, the UK government has delivered what we've all been asking for - a cross-governmental violence against women strategy.The scale of the problem facing the government should not be underestimated. Violence against women and girls is one of the most widespread abuses of human rights both here and abroad. It affects one in three women globally and is a major cause of death and disability. As ActionAid's work on violence against women reveals, it is also a leading factor in global poverty and a driver of conflict and the spread of HIV and Aids. Within the UK alone, violence against women costs about £40bn every year.
You may not know it but today is a good news day for women - 25 November is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, which launches the 16 days of activism against gender violence. Sixteen days of women and men all over the world tackling a global - but largely secret - scandal. Where's the good news? After years of lobbying, the UK government has delivered what we've all been asking for - a cross-governmental violence against women strategy.
The scale of the problem facing the government should not be underestimated. Violence against women and girls is one of the most widespread abuses of human rights both here and abroad. It affects one in three women globally and is a major cause of death and disability. As ActionAid's work on violence against women reveals, it is also a leading factor in global poverty and a driver of conflict and the spread of HIV and Aids. Within the UK alone, violence against women costs about £40bn every year.
UNITED NATIONS, Nov 25 (IPS) - Marking the 10th anniversary of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on Nov. 25, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched a Network of Men Leaders to battle violence against women and girls here Tuesday."These men will add their voices to the growing global chorus for action," Ban said. The Network of Men Leaders consists of current and former politicians, activists, religious and community figures who will work together to support the efforts of women around the world to defy destructive stereotypes, embrace equality, and inspire men and boys around the globe to speak out against violence. Seventy percent of women have experienced some sort of physical or sexual violence from men, mainly from husbands, intimate partners or relatives, Ban noted. Therefore "men have a crucial role to play in ending such violence, as fathers, friends, decision makers, and community and opinion leaders", he said.
PARIS, Nov 25 (IPS) - Several people are gathered outside a window, staring wide-eyed at a scene within. They watch as a man brutally beats a woman, pounding her face with his fists, kicking her. No one says anything, until an onlooker screams agonisingly: "stop". This is a short black-and-white film made by French director Olivier Dahan that has been showing on television and in theatres here ahead of the Nov. 25 International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women. Created for Amnesty International (AI), the film highlights the increase in reported cases of domestic violence in France over the past years and is being used to raise awareness of the issue. Its message: "Don't remain silent in the face of conjugal violence". According to the interior ministry, one woman is killed every three days in France as a consequence of such violence. The problem is "major because of the impact on the foundations of society", the ministry says. In 2008, a national police study showed that 156 women were murdered by their partner or ex-partner, while 27 men were killed in comparable circumstances. Eleven of the women who killed their partners had themselves been victims of domestic violence, the authorities say. In addition, nine children were also murdered by their fathers.
