Resurrection After Rape Community Group
Discussion, question-and-answer, general social support, and journal processing for progress-oriented rape survivors. No crisis, no damaging or triggering conflicts--this is for individuals who want to contribute to collective, cooperative action toward the goal of making actual PROGRESS through rape trauma. Much of this work is based on the book "Resurrection After...
UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday led a chorus of United Nations officials in calling on the international community to make greater efforts to tackle the global pandemic of violence against women and girls.
"In every country, women and girls continue to be plagued by violence, causing tremendous suffering," Ban said in a message marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, observed annually on Nov. 25.
He noted that such violence undermines development, generates instability and makes peace harder to achieve, stressing that the international community must demand accountability for the violations and take concrete steps to end impunity.
"Our goal is clear: to end these inexcusable crimes -- whether it is the use of rape as a weapon of war, domestic violence, sex trafficking, so-called 'honor' crimes or female genital mutilation," said Ban.
It is crucial to address the root causes of violence by eradicating discrimination and changing the mindset that reinforces prejudice, he said, highlighting his "UNite to End Violence Against Women" campaign that calls for nations to put in place strong laws, action plans, preventative measures, data collection and systematic measures to address sexual violence in conflict situations.
"Women around the world are the very linchpin keeping families, communities and nations together," he said. "On this International Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to women's human rights and let us do all it takes to end these horrific assaults once and for all."
On Tuesday the secretary-general marked the 10th anniversary of the International Day by launching a Network of Men Leaders, which brings together current and former politicians, activists, religious and community figures to combat the global pandemic.
"These men will add their voices to the growing global chorus for action," he said, noting that 70 percent of women experience in their lifetime some form of physical or sexual violence from men, the majority from husbands, intimate partners or someone they know.
The head of the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) praised women's rights activists around the world for harnessing broader support to combat the scourge, saying that it is now an issue of human rights and peace and security as well as a matter of urgent concern to both men and women.
"There are now more national plans, policies and laws in place than ever before, and momentum is also growing in the intergovernmental arena," said UNIFEM Executive Director Ines Alberdi.
She said that despite these achievements, it is "shocking" that up to 70 percent of women experience physical or sexual violence from men in their lifetime. "It happens everywhere -- at home and at work, on the streets and in schools, during peacetime and in conflict."
Alberdi said that the solution to ending violence against women and girls lies within each individual by raising "a generation that will not resort to violence, by volunteering to provide services, by raising funds and by raising our voices to say no to violence against women."
An independent UN human rights expert said that the reality on the ground around the world demonstrates that many forms of violence against women remain endemic, cutting across national boundaries, race, class, culture, tradition and religion.
"The consequences include the violation of dignity and also of the right to equality, non-discrimination, physical integrity and freedom from violence," said Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women, its causes and consequences Rashida Manjoo in her message for the Day.
States have a responsibility to eliminate violence against women through legal and policy measures, a robust criminal justice system, the provision of social services and economic policies that empower women, said Manjoo.
"The due diligence standard requires States to promote the right to be free from all forms of violence, both private and public; and also to develop and implement legislation, policies and programs that specifically address prevention, protection, prosecution and compensation," she said.
"In every country, women and girls continue to be plagued by violence, causing tremendous suffering," Ban said in a message marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, observed annually on Nov. 25.
He noted that such violence undermines development, generates instability and makes peace harder to achieve, stressing that the international community must demand accountability for the violations and take concrete steps to end impunity.
"Our goal is clear: to end these inexcusable crimes -- whether it is the use of rape as a weapon of war, domestic violence, sex trafficking, so-called 'honor' crimes or female genital mutilation," said Ban.
It is crucial to address the root causes of violence by eradicating discrimination and changing the mindset that reinforces prejudice, he said, highlighting his "UNite to End Violence Against Women" campaign that calls for nations to put in place strong laws, action plans, preventative measures, data collection and systematic measures to address sexual violence in conflict situations.
"Women around the world are the very linchpin keeping families, communities and nations together," he said. "On this International Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to women's human rights and let us do all it takes to end these horrific assaults once and for all."
On Tuesday the secretary-general marked the 10th anniversary of the International Day by launching a Network of Men Leaders, which brings together current and former politicians, activists, religious and community figures to combat the global pandemic.
"These men will add their voices to the growing global chorus for action," he said, noting that 70 percent of women experience in their lifetime some form of physical or sexual violence from men, the majority from husbands, intimate partners or someone they know.
The head of the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) praised women's rights activists around the world for harnessing broader support to combat the scourge, saying that it is now an issue of human rights and peace and security as well as a matter of urgent concern to both men and women.
"There are now more national plans, policies and laws in place than ever before, and momentum is also growing in the intergovernmental arena," said UNIFEM Executive Director Ines Alberdi.
She said that despite these achievements, it is "shocking" that up to 70 percent of women experience physical or sexual violence from men in their lifetime. "It happens everywhere -- at home and at work, on the streets and in schools, during peacetime and in conflict."
Alberdi said that the solution to ending violence against women and girls lies within each individual by raising "a generation that will not resort to violence, by volunteering to provide services, by raising funds and by raising our voices to say no to violence against women."
An independent UN human rights expert said that the reality on the ground around the world demonstrates that many forms of violence against women remain endemic, cutting across national boundaries, race, class, culture, tradition and religion.
"The consequences include the violation of dignity and also of the right to equality, non-discrimination, physical integrity and freedom from violence," said Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women, its causes and consequences Rashida Manjoo in her message for the Day.
States have a responsibility to eliminate violence against women through legal and policy measures, a robust criminal justice system, the provision of social services and economic policies that empower women, said Manjoo.
"The due diligence standard requires States to promote the right to be free from all forms of violence, both private and public; and also to develop and implement legislation, policies and programs that specifically address prevention, protection, prosecution and compensation," she said.
Thanks for the article ... it gives me a mixed feeling of trepidation and also of conviction. I guess it's the part that says this is what we know has to be said but it requests that I actually allow belief and hope that improvements can come!
Another study shows that intrenched gender roles play a part.
I used to notice that when I did jobs where there was a more equalitarian mode everyone seemed to get along better. More relationships developed.
I am also afraid of two things that media plays into the violence and also that there are battles won and then new hurdles to cross. For instance someone in the military was charged with rape of a "sex worker". He totally fesses up to what he did...however they still let him go. It's like to me it was them saying yeah you got it we can describe that what he did was defintly rape, but we are gonna just say yeah oh well we are still gonna let him get away with it. It's like chipping at the boulder of obstanace on the issue.
However I just listened to a woman talking about her book about the US financial sector and the bailouts. At one point I couldn't tell the difference between the talk of rapists and the top tier bankers. She has even named the book "It Takes a Pillage" Don't those things usually go together rape and pillage. Well I think the world has got to get some new values and ways of dealing with things.
This whole issue is HUGE, and extremely complex ................................ better education and employment opportunities are only the tip of the iceberg, religious extremism and intolerance also need to be tackled ........................................ we already know that climate change is affecting women and children in the world's poorest countries, more so than men - so that's going to be another huge problem to de-tangle ......................
I'd be curious to know what's behind the recent increase in rape reporting in Western countries - is there a particular year in which rates seem to have started rising again? Any figures I could look at?
How would they even go about doing that?
I think their plans to reeducate society are good..but its going to take a long time for that to happen. In the meantime we have young people who find rape funny...not just in jokes but actual rape. For some reason I cant fathom, rape seems to have become more culturally acceptable. In the way DV became an acceptable way to 'keep your wife in line', rape seems to have replaced that.
As for reporting rates; I think in the uk at least, there has been quite a bit of literature available in womens magazines. On the importance of reporting and highlighting all types of rape..not just stranger in alley rape etc. And their campaigns on rape seem to have helped. Women now know what happens when they report..who they can turn to afterwards. Maybe the fact that rape crisis centre numbers increased?