December 3, 2003
Awakened Woman's Circle is working for peace
UNIFEM Calls for Urgent Attention to Global Problem of Violence Against Women
One in Three Women Worldwide Could Suffer Violence Directed at Her Simply Because She is Female
United Nations, New York - One in three - this staggering figure sums up the crisis confronting women throughout the world; one in three women could be raped, beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused in her lifetime. At an event today to mark International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, UNIFEM and women advocates urged the world's governments to put the full weight of their moral, legal and economic power behind efforts to end violence against women.
"The scale of the problem vastly exceeds the resources committed," said Noeleen Heyzer , Executive Director of UNIFEM. "Over the last decade, it is amazing how much has been achieved with so little investment. But it's no longer enough. There are countless overworked and understaffed women's organisations that are still the main actors in the struggle to end violence against women. For us to sustain the progress that has been achieved, it is critical that the international community - governments, foundations, the private sector - match the level of resources with the scale of the problem."
Ms. Heyzer pointed to the extraordinary changes that can take place with small amounts of support, as UNIFEM has learned through managing its Trust Fund for Actions to Eliminate Violence Against Women. Trust Fund grantees, with $50,000 to $100,000 have, among other innovative projects, worked to secure agreements from communities to stop female genital mutilation, and spurred the passage of important laws and policies. "Unfortunately, however, even with a solid record of results, securing sufficient resources for the Trust Fund to support the innovative ideas being generated remains a challenge," she added. "Since it was set up by the UN General Assembly, the Trust Fund for Actions to Eliminate Violence Against Women should be treated like other global funds set up to address worldwide priorities. It is a mechanism that must be taken more seriously if we want to deal effectively with violence against women and provide a secure environment for women. The sec! urity of women is the best indicator of the security of our future."
Mrs Nane Annan , in her opening remarks, spoke of the urgency of dealing effectively with violence against women, and of how United Nations conferences have been instrumental in bringing the issue into the open. Adding that it was just as relevant today as it was four years ago, she reiterated what her husband, Kofi Annan, the United Nations Secretary General, said at a world conference on ending violence against women in 1999 - "Violence against women is perhaps the most shameful human rights violation. And it is perhaps the most pervasive. It knows no boundaries of geography, culture or wealth. As long as it continues, we cannot claim to be making real progress towards, equality, development and peace."
Also speaking at the event was Ms. Yolanda Jimenez , Commissioner of the New York Mayor's Office to Combat Domestic Violence, which works closely with grassroots organisations serving immigrant communities in New York. She said that violence against women was a global issue also within the local context of New York city, given that one in four New Yorkers is foreign-born."$112 million is spent annually by the City to combat domestic violence. Mayor Bloomberg made a firm commitment from the beginning of his administration to dealing effectively with the problem. We are working hard to enforce laws prohibiting domestic violence, and to provide services for victims, including language services through grassroots organisations that have a genuine understanding of the victim's culture. This is essential since immigrants routinely encounter language barriers; concern over immigration status, fear related to child custody and financial repercussions when reporting domestic violence," she said.
Grantees from UNIFEM's Trust Fund for Actions to Eliminate Violence Against Women shared their experiences on working to eliminate violence against women in their communities. Lydia Alpizar, an activist who works in Cuidad Juarez, Mexico, on the campaign to end impunity for the murders and disappearances of young women, described how important it was to keep the international spotlight on the issue, while Jivka Marinova of the Bulgarian Gender Research Foundation, spoke about her organisation's strategies to involve men and youth in changing attitudes and removing stereotypes about gender relations. High Court Judge of Tanzania, Nathalia Kimaro , highlighted the work that is being done to sensitize the judiciary in Tanzania on violence against women, and train judges to use international treaties and human rights conventions when ruling on cases in the courtroom.
More information on the event "Not A Minute More ? Time to Act" is
available on UNIFEM's Web site: www.unifem.org
UNIFEM is the women's fund at the United Nations, providing financial support and technical assistance to innovative programs promoting women's human rights, their economic and political empowerment, and gender equality in over 100 countries. For more information, visit www.unifem.org .
UNIFEM, 304 East 45th St, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10017, tel: 212
906-6400, fax: 212-906-6705