11. October 2006
UNFPA calls on Leaders to End Violence Against Women
Fund Welcomes Landmark Report by UN Secretary-General
UNITED NATIONS, New York, 9 October 2006 – Violence against women is a serious human rights violation and an affront to women’s freedom at large, UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, said today. Widespread impunity not only encourages further abuses and suffering, it also sends the signal that male violence against women is acceptable or normal, said UNFPA Executive Director, Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, welcoming a new in-depth report released today by the United Nations Secretary-General.
“It is time to end tolerance and complicity,” said Ms. Obaid. “We cannot make poverty history unless we make violence against women history. We cannot stop the spread of HIV unless we stop discrimination and violence against women and girls. We cannot build a world of peace, development and security until we end violence against women and girls.”
Today, she added, “far too many women are subjected to violence and made to feel shame. The real shame belongs to a world that often blames women for the crimes committed against them, and allows such widespread violence to continue.”
UNFPA fully agrees with the report’s recommendation that the United Nations system and all other donors should provide increased resources for national action plans to prevent and eliminate violence against women.
“UNFPA works to ensure that addressing violence against women and girls is an integral part of the sexual and reproductive health programmes we support,” said Ms. Obaid.
“For millions of women around the world, their visit to a health clinic may be the only opportunity they have to get the services and support they need to begin to heal and escape violence and abuse.”
Despite all the progress that has been achieved, Ms. Obaid said, “we fully agree with the conclusion of the Secretary-General’s report that, violence against women has yet to receive the priority attention and resources needed at all levels to tackle it with the seriousness and visibility necessary."
UNFPA is committed to working with others to end violence against women and girls, said Ms. Obaid. “And I would like to stress,” she added, “that we will never put a stop to violence against women until men are made partners and both girls and boys are raised in a culture of mutual respect and responsibility, and equal opportunity.”
Source: UNFPA
For more information, please contact:
Abubakar Dungus: +1-212-297-5031, dungus@unfpa.org;
Omar Gharzeddine: +1-212-297-5028, gharzeddine@unfpa.org.