25 NOVEMBER: INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

Violence against women is a global epidemic ...and it is growing. It is a rising phenomenon that knows no geographical boundary,age limit or colour bar and affects every type of family , relationship, social class, women and girls of all nations, of all cultures.
Gender - based violence is a complex phenomenon deeply rooted in the way society is composed cultural beliefs, power relations, economic power imbalances and the masculine ideal of male dominance.
In adopting the 1993 Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the UN General assembly defined the problem as " any act of gender- based violence results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual, or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary, deprivation of liberty, whether occuring in public or private life.
Statistics show that 12% to 15% of women in Europe face violence in the home every day. In the United States, one- third of women murdered each year are killed by intimate partners. In India , 22 women were killed each day in dowry- related murders in 2007. A woman is killed by her intimate partner in South Africa every six hours. In Turkey 4 in 10 women are beaten by their husbands.
Last years groups and individuals, NGO'S and activists are getting involved in efforts to prevent and address this heinous violation of women's human rights.There has also been significant progress at the national level as many countries have adopted laws and comprehensive action plans. However, much work lies ahead.The elimination of violence against women requires political will, legal measures, human and financial resources and also civil society action and awareness.

Useful Links
Say NO to violence Against Women (Unifem.org).
Stop Violence Against Women (Amnesty International).
www.domesticviolence.org
www.endviolence.un.org
www.domesticviolenceservices.com
www.womensaid.org.uk
www.isotita.gr


Με αφορμη την 25η Νοεμβρη, Παγκοσμια Ημερα για την Εξαλειψη της Βιας κατα των Γυναικων, το Κεντρο Ερευνας Γυναικειων Θεματων (Κ.Ε.ΓΥ.ΘΕ.) μας προσκαλεσε σε Ημεριδα με θεμα " Χθες και σημερα βια κατα των γυναικων....Αυριο τι; "
Η Ημεριδα εγινε το Σαββατο 21 Νοεμβρη 2009 στο Βιοτεχνικο Επιμελητηριο Αθηνων και πραγματοποιηθηκε στο πλαισιο του Προγραμματος Daphne της Ευρωπαικης ενωσης "Για μια γενια χωρις βια στις σχεσεις".
Συμμετειχαν οι Οργανωσεις:
Κεντρο Ερευνας Γυναικειων Θεματων- Ελλαδα
Women's Issues Information Center- Λιθουανια
Association Estonian Women's Shelters' Union- Εσθονια
Talsi Woman and Children Crisis Centre & Pasparne Crisis Centre- Λετονια
Baltic Fem- Σουηδια
Women's Line - Φινλανδια

Woman's Voice