Eliminating Violence Against Women - Issues, challenges, and accomplishments

Panel on Violence Against Women, and UNiTE Campaign. (issue paper)

The Secretary General attended the beginning of this Panel, to speak about the UNiTE campaign, particularly involving men.

Moderator: Mr. Robert Storaci, Vice Chair of CSW, Italy

Speaker from South Africa, Mr. Dean Peacock, increased violence stats - 27% of men in South Africa acknowledges violence against women.

Real and progressive language in declarations to commitments of including men and boys. Many countries now working with mean and boys. Work becoming sophisticated - in Rawanda, Chile, Equador - ground breaking work being done by men and boys.

Now have evidence based - does it bring about tangible gains? YES, out of Africa, Asia, South America - changes to decreasing levels of violence, HIV/AIDs, SG campaign - no longer can we allow impunity of perpetrators. Reality remains small in scale and limited in impact. Small scale - 4 steps that we can take bring about change -

1. Impact in National Plan - part of SA HIV/AIDs strategic plan - Commitment we need. Advances in Scandinavian countries - involving men in parenting, women reporting more satisfying relations
2. Gender Justice - What SA has done - many good policies, but implementation poor. Laws that men provide maintenance but not enough resources to enforce. Support for NGOs to make sure governments implement.
   
3. Clear principles - lots of questions asked - what really is this work about? Is it just the flavour of the day? Does it divert resources? Protecting men - putting men in charge. Work with men has to be accountable to women's rights organizations. Establish clear parameters
4. Work with men and boys- message is that they have a clear stake - why give up their power - SA highest rates of violence against women, but also highest rates of violence against men.

Speaker from Argentina, Ms. Susanna Chiaotta Effective measures - adoption of national laws, including international agreements.

Laws now include comprehensive laws, violation of human rights, not just in domestic setting, but community. These laws in 6 countries - entail new ways to approach VAW. SGs campaign, since 2006 - indepth study. Inter american system has an interamerican convention - follow up on convention. Gender observatory and monitors status of women. This control mechanism - deals with compliance Report in 2008 includes general and specific recommendations: Legal framework, access to justice, resources, budget. Consensus was sought - human rights, academe, women's groups. In Argentine, women came together. Law - media violence - publication of images and stereotypes - promote discrimination, humiliation, violence, women and young women - pornographic imgages. Media participated. Costa Rica and Guetamala - femicide, psychological violence - punishes forcing women into sexual rleations. 30 years for killing a woman, whether married or not. Human Rights framework. School violence - conducts that lowers self esteem of girls - physical limitations, class. Venezauala,- specific courts that hear violence - have all countries comprehensive violence laws, and effective enforcement. Regards to enforcement - national plans. Brazil - Violence observatory - own budget - be3ing promoted by civil society and the governments. Guarantee of strength - held hearings, for a whole year. Result incorporated social agencies. Alert in Brazilian law, emergency agencies, eradicate femicide, whether carried out by community or the individuals. Important to see a range of agencies working together to implement the law.

Issue is that some countries do not have national intervention plans, some lack important aspects. Limited to family and domestic violence. Clear determination to do away with gender violence in all it's forms. Proper budget - there the commitment is clear - Statistics compilation in the country. Very important. Additional effort to have gender specific stats.

Walter Fullemenn, IDRC, and Red Cross - in the absence of military structures, civilians are at the epicentre of the fighting. Specifically targeted in war fare. Displaced, separation from family, sexual violence, loss of employment.

1. Law protecting women- knowledge and compliance with international law. Must be made responsible - Women have to manage alone, head of households. Travel long distances to find food, water etc. As they move around face rape, land mines. increased by forced displacement. Many lack a trade - with missing husbands, and legal status unclear. Some countries many years, cannot access property, or even remarry. Women playing an active role - found women demonstrate their resilience. Women portrayed as victims of violence, but also women are politicians, leaders of NGOs, peace campaigns. Special skills. Women have initiated economic enterprises. Women involved in all aspects. Sexual violence one of the most traumatic - demoralizes the community. Rape as a deliberate tactic - result in the victim being abandoned. Acts of sexual violence - international tribunals of Bosnia, and Rawanda. Prohibitions must be included in countries. Rape is preventable, and realized. Victims of sexual violence - immediate care - appropriate environment - confidentially. Greater efforts increased in protection and prohibition at all times. Rules apply to peace forces. in International law, including Geneva conventions. Armed conflicts customary law - prohibited in international and natiional armed conflicts. ICC concerned with lack of implementation. Ensuring respect for existing rules. Mechanism for addre3ssing violations - prosecution a further step, ICC incorporating capacities of women in all aspects - programs to respond - urgency to end sexual violence.

International Soroptomists - part of UNiTE campign - many projects in different countries. Attention - concerned about trafficking of human beings, especially women and girls. Too wide for single country to address. Dealing in human beings, and 80% are girls, lot of money. Criminal activities. Root causes of trafficking and victims. implement proper legislation to protect and prevention measures. Close the legal and cultural loop holes, impunity that we still see today.

Acknowledging appointment of Ms. Margaret Walstrom, as Special Representative on ending Sexual and Gender Based Violence in Conflict Situations.