PPP - Tuesday, 27 November 2012
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| Events to mark 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence — like this one last year in Preah Rumkel, Stung Treng — will be mirrored across Cambodia in 2012. Photograph: UN Women/CRDT |
Across the world, violence against women is increasingly recognised for what it is: a threat to democracy, a barrier to lasting peace, a burden on national economies and a human-rights violation.
Violence against women is not only painful and degrading. There are often serious long-term personal repercussions as well.
The threat of rape and violence also contributes to human trafficking, unsafe sex, the spread of HIV and other health consequences.
But as more and more people believe violence against women is neither acceptable nor inevitable, as more and more perpetrators are punished, the movement to end violence against women grows deeper and stronger.
Sunday was the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. A day for us to come together and show that this pervasive problem is never acceptable.
It also marked the start of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence, a global campaign with a local face.
In Cambodia, hundreds of partners — from NGOs to government ministries, UN agencies, civil-society organisations and individuals – are joining forces to raise public awareness.
In Cambodia, the first step towards ending gender violence has already been taken: the silence has been broken.
Policymakers have taken decisive action by outlawing domestic and “acid attack” violence.
Building on Cambodia’s 1992 ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the Cambodian Government has incorporated many of the convention’s standards in its laws, policies and practices.
The Ministry of Women’s Affairs, in partnership with other ministries and a range of development partners, is in the process of formulating the new National Action Plan to Prevent Violence Against Women.
Consultation is under way across the country, with the Action Plan to be finalised next year.
These are all important steps in strengthening policy and practice at the national and sub-national levels and ensuring they are responsive to the wide spectrum of needs and concerns, including those of marginalised groups.
Globally, knowledge of the root causes of violence has increased, and women, men and young people continue to mobilise in huge numbers to speak out.
Countless organisations and their members work tirelessly to support survivors in many countries.
But there is still work to be done. We must all continue to do better to protect women and girls, and prevent this pervasive violation of human rights.
We hope to see new, improved laws and national action plans that provide safe houses, free hotline services and free health and legal aid to the survivors of violence.
We count on education programs that teach human rights, equality and mutual respect, and inspire young people to take leadership on ending violence against women and girls.
We need increasing numbers of women in politics, law enforcement and peacekeeping forces. We need equal economic opportunities and decent jobs for women.
All of these actions require decisiveness and courage.
In some countries, as many as seven in 10 women will be beaten, raped, abused or mutilated during their lifetimes.
A crisis of such proportions deserves nothing less than the highest attention of world leaders.
Next March, leaders from governments and civil society will come together at the UN Commission on the Status of Women to agree on action to prevent, and respond effectively to, violence against women. Expectations are high — and they should be.
During the 16 Days of Activism over the next fortnight, people in Cambodia and across the world will take to the streets for a wide range of activities and events.
It is an important opportunity to show your support, speak out and stand up against gender-based violence.
Because this is not just a women’s issue: it is a responsibility for all of us. Such violence is an outrage, and it must be stopped.
Time has run out for complacency or excuses. Let us show the will and the determination, and let us continue to mobilise greater resources to end violence against women.
When asked whether ending violence against women is possible, given the pervasiveness and persistence of these crimes, we must answer: “Yes.”
It is possible. But only by working together can we achieve this end.
James Heenan is the country representative of OHCHR; Marie-Odile Emond is the country co-ordinator of UNAIDS; Anne Lemaistre is the country representative of UNESCO; Marc Derveeuw is the country representative of UNFPA; Rana Flowers is the country representative of UNICEF; Isabelle Devylder is the program officer of UNV; Wenny Kusuma is the country director of UN Women; and Pieter Van Maaren is the country representative of WHO.
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