[women-rights] UNESCO on violence against women

Message from the Director-General on the occasion of
International Women's Day (8 March 2002)

On 8 March 2002, the international community will again
observe International Women's Day. Within the framework of the
International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the
Children of the World (2001-2010), my message this year will focus on
the theme of violence against women, with particular reference to its
impact on children.

Countless acts of violence afflicting women and children in both
developed and developing countries still persist, ranging from
domestic violence, battering, marital rape and dowry-related violence
to pre-natal sex selection in favour of male babies, female
infanticide, sexual abuse, female genital mutilation, sexual
harassment, and sexual exploitation, including trafficking and forced
prostitution. Moreover, in situations of armed conflict, women and
girls are increasingly targeted for attack, mistreatment and, in some
circumstances, systematic rape. As refugees, women are particularly
vulnerable to sexual violence while in flight, in refugee camps
and/or during resettlement.

Violence against women and girls occurs in all countries, in all
regions, and in every segment of society, though the forms and
incidence of such violence are variable. Often, violence is not
random - women and girls are victims simply because they are female.
Thus, gender-based violence is an expression of gender inequality but
it also may serve to bolster wider patterns of gender discrimination
and injustice. Too often, violence is visited upon women as though it
were a right of men to inflict it and the obligation of women to
suffer it. Such thinking must be rejected categorically.

In recent years, the existence of gender-based violence has gained
greater public acknowledgement in many countries but denial of its
scope and seriousness remains widespread. Its victims, moreover, may
prefer silence, especially when prevailing social customs, powerful
institutions and the legal system do little or nothing to afford
protection. I appeal, therefore, to governments, civil society
organizations and the international community to promote respect for
internationally recognized principles, norms and standards of human
rights, particularly women's rights and children's rights which are
an inalienable and integral part of universal human rights. And I
appeal for greater and more open debate as well as stronger action
concerning violence against women. That action, let me add, must
include preventive education.

Gender-based violence has immediate and far-reaching consequences
affecting women's and children's development, health, mental and
physical well-being, and life prospects. By 'children', of course, we
mean both boys and girls, whether they are the direct victims of
violence or are exposed to it. Despite its pervasive presence in
human history, we are only just beginning to reach a fuller
understanding of the causes and effects of violence. Much more
research and investigation are needed if we are to understand how
violence affects the behaviour, emotions, attitudes and personal
development of its direct victims and its witnesses.

However, crucial though they are, increased knowledge and
understanding are not enough, nor should they be the first response.
The key immediate action in all cases is to stop the violence before
it does any further damage. Violence feeds upon itself and therefore
has the potential to escalate. Stopping the violence, therefore, is
urgent and vital. But it too is not enough. For the cycle of violence
to be decisively broken, its recurrence must be prevented. This
applies as much to political violence as it does, say, to domestic
violence. Effective prevention must take specific and appropriate
forms but a factor common to many different approaches is the
strengthening of the resilience and coping capacity of the victims of
violence. UNESCO believes that supportive learning environments are
very important in this regard, as are particular strategies for
promoting peace, conflict resolution, human rights, tolerance and
democracy through education.

Without in any way diminishing the importance of other situations
around the world, allow me to take the example of Afghanistan, where
until recently women and girls were victims of systematic
marginalization and discrimination at the hands of the Taliban
regime. Afghanistan under the Taliban became justifiably notorious
for its denial of women's fundamental human rights, particularly the
right to education, health and work. Today, thanks to recent
developments, new opportunities are becoming available to Afghan
women so they may regain their rightful position in society and
become equal partners in the tasks of reconstruction. Women are
reclaiming their rights to education and employment, schools for
girls are reopening and women are returning to their former jobs.

In whatever way it can, UNESCO is supporting these efforts,
recognizing that Afghan women themselves must take the lead in
identifying their own needs and priorities. The end of all forms of
gender-based violence is likely to figure prominently among those
priorities. The collapse of the Taliban regime has removed a major
impediment to Afghan women's recovery of their rights but other
obstacles stubbornly remain. The return of peace and security in
Afghanistan is essential for all other efforts aimed at recovery and
reconstruction. But real peace and security will not return to Afghan
women until the tolerance of violence in the culture and in the
society is uprooted.

Violence against women and children is not a "women's issue". Indeed,
as an issue of equality and equity, it concerns us all. Both men and
women must work side by side in support of increased recognition and
respect of the equal role and rights of each other. A member of an
Afghan women's group described this recently in simple, yet moving
words: "Society is like a bird. It has two wings. And a bird cannot
fly if one wing is broken. Let us resolve to ensure that all
societies fly with both wings, of equal strength and with equal
dignity".

Koïchiro Matsuura