NCJ Number
217523
Editor(s)
Marie Vlachovd,
Lea Biason
Date Published
September 2005
Length
32 pages
Annotation
This is the executive summary of a book entitled "Women in an Insecure World," which presents data on violence against women throughout the world.
Abstract
Globally, women between the ages of 15 and 44 are more likely to be injured or killed as a result of male violence than because of cancer, traffic accidents, malaria, and war combined. For each girl and woman killed, there are scores who are physically or psychologically impaired by violence. Gender-based violence is directed against a woman because she is a woman, or it is violence that affects women disproportionately. Examples include rape, domestic violence, trafficking for sexual exploitation, sexual harassment, female genital mutilation, and forced marriage. The roots of gender-based violence are in the pervasive systems of inequality that perpetrate and perpetuate the domination of men and the subordination of women. Women's movements have been the driving force behind global efforts to address gender-based violence. Women have challenged governments to address abuses against women. Descriptions of international efforts in this sphere focus on United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, women's involvement in United Nations peace operations, and the Global Coalition of Women Defending Peace. This executive summary outlines the book's key recommendations for eradicating violence against women. The recommendations are in the areas of prevention, protection, and empowerment. Each approach involves women and men as well as civil society and government. It also has local, national, and international dimensions. The book was the result of work done at the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces, an international foundation with 46 member states committed to the reform and effective performance of the security sector.