According to a report titled, "Domestic Violence Against Women and Girls" by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), "at some point in their lives, up to half the female population suffer abuse at the hands of those closest to them. This illustrates the prevalence of domestic abuse of women and girls at alarming proportions.
The report is a first effort by UNICEF to establish the global dimensions of domestic abuse, culling published researches from various countries. This is another step deeper into an aggressive campaign to address the root causes of the problems of millions of the world’s women and children. Carol Bellamy, UNICEF’s executive director, said that domestic violence has been given too low a priority. This is manifested in the fact that no country or region is exempt from domestic abuse, which is often seen in the poorest countries or the poorest neighborhoods.
Domestic violence was in fact included in a new blueprint to improve women’s lives, which resulted from the 5-day conference. The said blueprint stresses health care, including abortion and punishment for marital rape, domestic abuse and trafficking in women and girls. Also acknowledged during the conference was the fact that men cannot be left out in the process of improving women’s lives.
The role of men in women’s issues is one of the key points the UN raised during the conference. United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) executive director, Noeleen Heyzer said, "We have to challenge the boys to understand the issue of consent, as well as challenging girls to understand that they have the right to say no." Norman Tjombe, who organized a meeting of hundreds of men in Namibia to discuss violence against women, said involving men in necessary because often, they won’t listen to women. She further said that, "there is no reason why if . . . those who make war at the peace table, that (women) who sustain peace are not at the peace table. We have every right to be at the peace table."
Misconceptions about Violence Against Women Health consequences of violence against women IHealth consequences of violence against women II
Courtesy of Family Planning Organization of the Philippines
Half of world’s women are victims of domestic abuseBaby Corner - The Community for expectant and New Parents for Babies and ToddlersBaby CornerHalf of the world's women are victims of domestic abuseMommydays.com - Just For Moms
