The resolution
establishing the International Day for
the Elimination of Violence Against Women
notes that the term 'violence against
women' means:
| … any act
of gender-based violence that
results in, or is likely to
result in, physical, sexual or
psychological harm or suffering
to women, including threats of
such acts, coercion or arbitrary
deprivation of liberty, whether
occurring in public or private
life. |
|
This definition reflects that
definition of violence against women that
is contained in the Declaration on the
Elimination of Violence Against Women
http://www1.umn.edu/humanrts/instree/e4devw.htm
The Declaration goes on to identify three
areas in which violence commonly takes
place: the family; the general community;
and violence perpetrated or condoned by
the State.
Physical, sexual and psychological
violence that occurs in the family may
include: battering; sexual abuse of
female children in the household; dowry-related
violence; marital rape; female genital
mutilation and other traditional
practices harmful to women; non-spousal
violence; and violence related to
exploitation.
Physical, sexual and psychological
violence that occurs within the general
community may include: rape; sexual
abuse; sexual harassment and intimidation
at work, in educational institutions and
elsewhere; trafficking in women; and
forced prostitution.
Physical, sexual and psychological
violence perpetrated or condoned by the
State may include: illegitimate
detention; forced sterilization; forced
pregnancies; tolerating gender violence
by nonstate agents; rape and torture in
military or police custody.
For a helpful grid describing the
different forms or manifestations of
gender violence and their locus, or
sphere in which they take place, see www.unifem-eseasia.org/VAWCamp/MANIFEST.html
Idea for Action: Naming Our Experience
| Examine the
UNIFEM grid describing the
different kinds of violence
suffered by women, and the
spheres in which the violence
takes place. Are there any forms
of violence against women that
occur in your community or
country that aren't clearly named
in the grid? If so, add them to
the grid to adjust it for use in
your place. Send a copy to UNIFEM
to inform them about how women
name the violence that they
suffer in your place. Which forms
of violence, or spheres in which
violence takes place, are
considered the most important
targets for action by your group? |
|
|
|