by Armelle Djoukoue
November 25th is the international Day for the elimination of violence against women, and the start of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence Campaign. The Campaign will end on International Human Rights day, December 10th. The campaign will highlight the 16 key facts on intimate partner and sexual against women.
- Up to 70% of women experience physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner at some point in their lives.
- Violence against women is predictable and preventable.
- Violence against women can damage the health and well-being of women.
- Violence against women can damage the health and well-being of children.
- Violence against women increases the likelihood of being infected with HIV.
- Violence against women is an obstacle to achieving several Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
- Violence against women seriously affects economic development.
- Men who were victims of child maltreatment are three to four times more likely to perpetrate intimate partner violence.
- The harmful use of alcohol by men increases the likelihood of intimate partner violence.
- Sexual violence is widespread in settings of conflict, post-conflict and displacement.
- Programmes that increase women’s access to microcredit and finance and train people in healthy relationship and negotiation skills can prevent violence against women.
- School-based programmes to prevent dating violence can prevent violence against women.
- Engaging men and boys in preventing violence against women and promoting gender equality can have positive effects.
- WHO provides guidance on how to implement evidence-based programs for the prevention of intimate partner and sexual violence against women.
- WHO has developed recommendations to support health workers to address the consequences of sexual violence.
- WHO supports research on understanding and preventing sexual violence.
The Violence Prevention and Response Project will have the Clothesline Project in UMKC Johnson Hall (5000 Oak Street) and Oak Place Apartments (5050 Oak Street); this visual display bears witness to domestic and sexual violence. Stop by the Women’s Center (108 Haag Hall) to decorate a shirt and share your feelings and thoughts on how violence against women has affected you or your loved ones. Keep the conversation going year-round at the UMKC Violence Prevention and Response Facebook page.
Contact Kelly Rifenbark at 816.235.6175 or rifenbarkk@umkc.edu with any questions.
For more information about the campaign, visit the World Health Organization 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence page.