Resources on VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
Section d
"Violence against women is an obstacle to the achievement of the objectives of equality, development and peace. Violence against women both violates and nullifies the enjoyment by women of their human rights and fundamental freedoms. The long-standing failure to protect and promote those rights and freedoms in the case of violence against women is a matter of concern to all States and should be addressed."
Beijing Platform for Action.
Websites and Electronic Resources
http://www.unifem.undp.org/campaign/violence/videocon.htm
UNIFEM 's Global Campaign to Eliminate Violence Against Women features information about the global campaign with highlights from regional campaigns. The global videoconference on violence against women held by UNIFEM on May 8, 1999 can be viewed from the site. In addition, you can will find past discussions from the on-going on-line discussion of the "end-violence" working group.
http://www.rainbo.org
Research, Action and Information Network for the Bodily Integrity of Women (Rainbo) starts with the issue of female circumcision/female genital mutilation (FC/FGM), exploring means of preventing this and other forms of gender-based violence and violations. Their ultimate goal is to promote and protect the reproductive and sexual health and rights of women and girls. International in scope with a particular focus on Africa.
http://www.inet.co.th/org/gaatw
The Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women (GAATW) aims to ensure that the human rights of trafficked women are respected and protected by authorities and agencies. This site contains general background information as well as urgent action to allow organizations and individuals to get involved.
http://www.cavnet2.org
Communities Against Violence Network (CAVNET) is a diverse network of professionals and advocates working in the areas of domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault, and rape. This information sharing network has collected numerous resources at national and international levels. This information is available in a searchable format at this site.
http://www.undp.org/rblac/gender
United Nations Inter-Agency Campaign On Women's Human Rights In Latin America And The Caribbean
developed by the UNDP Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean as part of the wider UN campaign on women's human rights. The information included is a compilation of material provided by all partner agencies, and more information on each agencies work can be found by clicking on the agencies name on any page. Information will be updated periodically. So far, reports have been completed for Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Trinidad & Tobago and Venezuela.
http://www.whiteribbon.ca/wrchome htm
The White Ribbon Campaign is a campaign of men working to end men's violence against women, and came out of the massacre of women students at a university in Montreal, Dec. 4, . Based in Canada, it welcomes international participation, and has organized a number of awareness raising activities inc. 2 radio Public Service Announcements.
http://www.cwgl.rutgers. edu/policy.html
The Center for Women's Global Leadership (CWGL) site provides information about the annual 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence campaign, held from November 25 to December 10. In coordinating the campaign, CWGL assists hundreds of women's organizations in dozens of countries as they stage their events and focus on national legislation and global policies aimed at the elimination of violence against women.
http://www.hrw.org/hrw/pubweb/ women.html
Human Rights Watch (HRW) Reports on Women's Rights provides Information on women's rights. Relevant reports include "Crime or Custom Violence Against Women in Pakistan", "Violence against Women in Peru's Armed Conflict", Too Little, Too Late: State Response to Violence Against Women as well as many others.
http://www.ipas.org
Ipas works globally to improve women's lives through a focus on reproductive health. The site includes notices about efforts to prevent unsafe abortion, improve treatment of its complications and reduce its consequences.
http://www.whrnet.org/issues.html
Women's Human Rights Net
This site offers a good general introduction to the issue of violence against women. It provides key concepts, facts and a list of human rights mechanisms that work for the elimination of violence against women.
http://www.hri.ca
The Human Rights Internet (HRI) was founded in 1976 and is a world leader in the exchange of information within the worldwide human rights community. HRI communicates by phone, fax, mail and the Internet with more than 5,000 organizations and individuals around the world working for the advancement of human rights. The organization supports the work of the global non-governmental community. The site's search engine pulls up information available on the site as well as other useful internet sites.
http://www.equalitynow.org/brochure_eng_why.html
The Equality Now website, in addition to general information about Equality Now activities to end human rights violations against women, has information about their campaign to support organizations and individual activists working to stop female genital mutilation. The website is available in English, French, Spanish and Arabic.
http://www.popcouncil.org/rhfp/ violence. html
The Population Council website shares information on the Council's work in the area of Female Genital Mutilation and Violence Against Women. It includes activities concerning female genital mutilation (FGM) in several countries in Africa; violence against women in Algeria; and gender violence in several countries in South and East Asia.
http://www.feminist.org/gateway /vs_exec2.html
The Feminist Majority Foundation website is a mediated list of internet resources on violence against women. It is grouped around the following themes: General Information, Emotional Abuse, Research, Organizations, Shelters, Services, Resources, Stalking, and Self Defense.
http://www.unhcr.ch/html/menu2 /7/b/mwom.htm
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) website provides direct links to all UN documents related to the elimination of violence against women. In addition, there is information on how to contact the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, its Causes and Consequences.
Selected Books
Many of these publications can be ordered online at www.womenink.org
Culture and Choice: Lessons from Survivors of Gender Violence in Zimbabwe
Alice Armstrong
This book reports on a three-year project of research and workshops on gender violence in Zimbabwe. Lessons drawn from the experiences and attitudes of women who have survived gender violence are used to explore new ways of thinking about gender violence, strategies used to fight it, and programmes intended to help its victims.
1998. 149 pages. US$12.00
Female Genital Mutilation: A Call for Global Action
Nahid Toubia
This book provides a compelling overview of the global prevalence of clitoridectomy and infibulation. It lays out the medical facts about, and consequences of, female genital mutilation (FGM), discusses the cultural significance of this practice in Africa, and suggests legal, religious, social, and political steps to eradicate it. Personal narratives; photographs and illustrations; statistics.
1995 (Second Edition). 48 pages. US$9.95
Female Genital Mutilation: An Overview
World Health Organization
This publication provides a good introduction to both the social importance of the practice of female genital mutilation and the dangers it presents to the health of the women and girls who undergo it. It covers the technical aspects, provides research and background data and also outlines certain international agreements and actions related to this practice.
1998. 73 pages. US$23.40
Safe and Secure, Eliminating Violence Against Women and Girls in Muslim Societies
Mahnaz Afkhami, Greta Hofmann Nemiroff and Haleh Vaziri
This training manual is intended to assist women in Muslim societies to identify sources of violence in the family, community, society and state; communicate this information and understanding to others; and influence governments. International human rights instruments protecting women's human rights; list of relevant organizations; selected bibliography.
1999. 261 pages. US$21.00
The Taliban's War on Women: A Health and Human Rights Crisis in Afghanistan
Physicians for Human Rights
This report reveals the experiences and opinions of Afghan women under the Taliban with a health and human rights survey of 160 women from a wide age range, diverse educational and occupational backgrounds, and all levels of income, plus in-depth interviews of 40 women. It also examines relevant international law and concludes with recommendations for action.
1998. 119 pgs. US$10.00
Unnatural Deaths of Women in Marriage: A Campaign Diary
Vimochana
Based on a study and campaign begun in 1997 by Vimochana, Bangalore, India, this book, brings to light the deep-rooted socio-economic and political beliefs that legitimise the increasing number of women being murdered for dowry or dying under suspicious circumstances. It describes the campaign for accessible legal systems that will make those involved in future cases of violence accountable. Case studies.
1999. 48 pages. WE 500V. US$9.00
Violence Against Women
Caroline Sweetman (Ed.)
This collection looks at violence against women: in times of conflict and peacetime; in the home and in public; as members of different ethnic groupings; as children and as adults. The focus is on campaigning and advocacy as well as on work with women who have experienced violence in countries including Russia, Guinea-Bissau and India.
1998. 80 pages. US$12.95
Women Against Violence: Breaking the Silence
Ana Maria Brasileiro (Ed.)
The articles in this book, the fourth in the UNIFEM series reflecting on Experience in Latin America and the Caribbean document the different types of violence experienced in various cultures and contexts. With intimate detail they show how and why violence occursóand the courageous steps women are taking to end it.
1997. 116 pages. US$9.95
Women@Work Against Violence: Voices in Cyberspace
UNIFEM
This unique booklet brings together the contributions of more than 1,000 women and men who joined the <end-violence> on-line working group organized by UNIFEM in the lead-up to their Global UN Interagency Video Conference ìA World Free of Violence Against Women's (March 8, 1999). The working group reported from around the world on a wide range of innovative programmes that could change attitudes, end patterns of tolerated and hidden violence, and successfully educate judges, police and policy makers to recognize and respond appropriately to situations of gender-based violence.
1999. 62 pages. US$6.50
Many of these publications can be ordered online at www.womenink.org