Speaking Out Against Gender Violence
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The Center for Women’s Global Leadership at Rutgers University is conducting a campaign against gender violence. It began on November 25, 2010, which is International Day to End Violence Against Women, and it ended on December 1, Human Rights Day. The theme is Structures of Violence: Defining the Intersections of Militarism and Violence Against Women.
Militarism is defined “as an ideology that creates a culture of fear and supports the use of violence, aggression, or military intervention for settling disputes and enforcing economic and political interests.”
Here are 16 ways the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is working to end gender violence:
1. It is calling for an end to impunity for people who perpetrate violence against women.
2. The UN is highlighting the need to include women in any sort of peace and reconciliation process.
3. It wants to protect women and girls following a humanitarian crisis. An example of this is the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti, in which the UNFPA played a role in coordinating displaced women and girls.
4. “Delivering as ONE to end violence against women.” It is working to support survivors of violence in countries such as Burkina Faso, Jamaica, and Jordan, to name a few.
5.”Engaging boys in their formative years with messages of gender equality.”
6.It is calling for an end to female circumcision.
7.The UN wants to bring attention to sexual violence as an instrument of war. Case in point is the Democratic Republic of Congo.
8. It is enlisting popular sports figures to speak out against gender violence.
9. The needs of women in refugee camps is being addressed.
10. Culturally-based sensitive approaches to address violence against women are tools that are being used.
11. Child marriages and too-early pregnancies are being addressed.
12. Working with religious leaders in ending gender based violence.
13. “Giving people who have lived with violence new channels for self-expression.”
14. “Forming partnerships with men to end violence against women.”
15. Helping survivors of domestic violence.
16. “Documenting the long lasting effects of rape and torture.”
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