Resolution: stopping violence against women - Women and Violence - Brief Article

WIN News, Spring, 2002

SOCIALIST INTERNATIONAL WOMEN

Maritime House, Old Town, London SW4 OJW

UNITED KINGDOM

fax: (44 20) 7720 4448

e-mail: socintwomen@gn.apc.org

"Violence against women is a universal phenomenon, which cuts across lines of income, class and culture and is a clear manifestation of the unequal power relations between women and men. It is a fundamental barrier to women's equality and a clear violation of women's rights and fundamental freedoms.

Female genital mutilation and other traditional practices which, according to the World Health Organisation are carried out in at least 25 African countries, some Asian countries and the Middle East are a violation of women's rights to personal integrity and physical and mental health and of their sexual and reproductive rights. Socialist International Women - SIW - therefore welcomes the report of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, which calls for a ban on the practice of female genital mutilation, considering it inhuman and degrading treatment.

The personal and social costs of violence against women are immense. In addition there are huge social and financial costs to society as a whole for hospitalisation, counselling and loss of income.

SOCIALIST INTERNATIONAL WOMEN THEREFORE CALLS ON GOVERNMENTS TO:

- develop and implement protocols for the early identification and referral of victims of abuse and ensure that police officers responsible for investigating violence against women receive training to sensitise them to the needs of women;

- revise asylum procedures to sensitively address refugee women who have suffered violence, including rape during times of armed conflicts;

- extend and improve medical and legal services for victims in both urban and rural areas;

- provide financial and technical support to NGOs working with battered and sexually abused women..."