[hr-education] International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

***Learn more about the International Day for the Elimination of Violence
Against Women, 25 November 2004:
http://www.hrea.org/feature-events/vaw-day.php


ICRC Press Release
25-11-2004

Geneva (ICRC) – To mark International Day for the Elimination of Violence
Against Women on 25 November, the International Committee of the Red Cross
(ICRC) is launching the French version of its manual Addressing the Needs
of Women Affected by Armed Conflict: An ICRC Guidance Document (the
English version was launched on 8 March 2004).

This special day is an opportunity to promote global awareness of violence
against women. The ICRC is particularly concerned about sexual violence in
wartime, a widespread problem that is not limited to rape. Other forms
prevalent in war include enforced prostitution, sexual slavery, sexual
exploitation and trafficking, forced pregnancy, forced termination of
pregnancy, enforced sterilization, inappropriate medical examinations and
strip searches.

Sexual violence in wartime is not inevitable – it can be prevented if
international humanitarian law is respected. The challenge lies in
translating existing law into practice. There are a number of steps that
can and must be taken to maximize the protection afforded to women in
armed conflict and to improve the response given to women's needs, with
particular regard to sexual violence. The manual offers clear and
practical suggestions on how this can be achieved. Recommendations include
training female personnel to better assist victims, ensuring that security
measures are taken to limit the risks faced by displaced women and raising
awareness among arms bearers of the fact that sexual violence is
prohibited at all times under international humanitarian law.

The manual covers a number of topics in addition to sexual violence,
reflecting the fact that women's experience of armed conflict is
multifaceted. Its aim is to provide a practical tool for ensuring that
humanitarian programmes and services adequately address women's needs. The
ICRC hopes that the manual will prove useful to policy-makers and
humanitarian personnel endeavouring to work for and with women affected by
armed conflict.

For further information, please contact:
Florence Tercier Holst-Roness, ICRC Geneva, tel.: ++41 22 730 3451
Annick Bouvier, ICRC Geneva, tel.: ++41 22 730 2458



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