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Blog: Violence Against Women

  • Posted by Ravi Verma on Friday, March 15, 2013
    Ending Violence Against Women: Start Young Before It's Too Late
    ICRW's Ravi Verma explains why engaging young men and boys is essential

    ICRW was one of 30 civil society organizations selected to address the 57th Commission on the Status of Women at UN headquarters in New York last week. ICRW’s Asia Regional Director Ravi Verma travelled from his home base in New Delhi to make the following presentation on the importance of working with young men and boys to eradicate violence against women and girls:

  • Posted by Jennifer Abrahamson on Wednesday, March 13, 2013
    CSW Feature: Engaging Young Men in the Battle Against Gender-based Violence
    Innovative program in the Balkans challenging harmful behaviors, gender norms

    Natko Geres and Vojislav Arsic have a lot in common. Both 28, the two young men share a taste for popular urban culture. Some of their earliest memories are also the same. They were both six-years-old when war erupted in the former Yugoslavia. On opposing sides of the frontline in those dark days – Natko in Croatia and Vojislav in Serbia – the two have come together in the post-conflict era to fight a new battle.

  • Posted by Lyric Thompson on Thursday, March 7, 2013
    Eliminating Violence against Women – Everywhere
    Now that VAWA has passed, it’s time to revive the International Violence Against Women Act

    The Violence Against Women act passes just one week ahead of International Women's Day. Now Congress must take the next bold step towards gender equity by tackling violence against women worldwide.

  • Posted by Nandita Bhatla on Thursday, February 14, 2013
    Does the New Delhi Rape Mark a Turning Point?
    Diverse groups galvanize to ensure a safer environment for India’s women and girls

    As the One Billion Rising global call to action against gender-based violence kicked off, ICRW’s Nandita Bhatla reflected on the rape of a New Delhi woman that sparked global outrage, explaining how to ensure a safer tomorrow for India’s women and girls.

  • Posted by Stella Mukasa on Friday, December 28, 2012
    Celebrating the UN Ban on Female Genital Mutilation
    Efforts to end FGM should consider the power of community-based interventions

    A new UN resolution to ban female genital mutilation presents an opportunity for governments, organizations and others to create effective approaches to curb the practice. One successful program in Ethiopia provides a strong example of how to do just that. 

  • Posted by Sophie Namy on Monday, December 10, 2012
    The War at Home: Suffering in Silence
    Rape survivors scared into silence by fear of stigma

    Asha* is a young, unmarried Tanzanian woman. She is also a rape survivor. But she had told no one about that violent encounter, a truth she carries with her every day.She's not alone - many women here don't speak up about sexual violence because they fear the stigma and discrimination they are likely to endure.

  • Posted by Stella Mukasa on Wednesday, December 5, 2012
    The War at Home: Enduring Evidence
    Research evidence is key to effective responses to and prevention of violence against women

    When my colleague asked me if I had any questions for the woman before me in a hospital bed, her skin taut and raw from the burns, I could barely speak. The sight of her and the injuries she had sustained at the hands of her husband silenced me.

  • Posted by Jennifer McCleary-Sills on Wednesday, November 21, 2012
    The War at Home: Uncharted Territory
    Tanzanian women face a labyrinth of barriers when seeking help after experiencing violence

    Jua* is a 25-year-old Tanzanian woman with a violent husband. He beats her when he’s angry. He blames her for making him angry and “forcing” him to beat her. Tragically, Jua’s situation is not uncommon. 

  • Posted by Brian Heilman on Thursday, June 7, 2012
    A Second Chance
    Ugandan organization offers unique assistance to women survivors of violence

    Today, as the International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA) is once again introduced in the U.S. Congress, all I can think about is Miremba.*

  • Posted by Brian Heilman on Friday, January 20, 2012
    Define the Problem
    Ending sexual violence requires more than words

    The U.S. Department of Justice has expanded its definition of rape. But new definitions alone will not change behavior -- not without the cultural and social will to meet them halfway.

  • Posted by Mary Ellsberg on Tuesday, December 13, 2011
    A Tool for Social Change
    Research triggers Pacific region leaders to action in ending violence against women

    Research can be a powerful tool for jump starting governments and communities into action -- and that's just what happened in Melanesia and East Timor when it came to addressing violence against women. 

  • Posted by ICRW Communications Staff on Thursday, December 1, 2011
    Moving the Goal Posts for Girls
    Encouraging girls to join sports programs can help empower them and their communities

    Two ICRW experts participate in an international meeting focused on the role of sport in international development and in promoting gender equality. They talk cricket, coaches and how to include more women.

  • Posted by Abigail Disney on Thursday, May 26, 2011
    Women, War and Peace
    Women Are More Critical to Peace than Ever Before

    There is a general perception that women could not possibly have anything to do with war, and therefore they really have nothing to do with peace. Nothing could be further from the truth, and the longer we proceed under this misapprehension, the longer we will go on failing to solve the fundamental problems that bring conflict to so many places around the world.

  • Posted by Mary Ellsberg on Wednesday, December 8, 2010
    Rebuilding Lives After Genocide
    Rwandan Women Find Strength in Each Other

    On a recent visit to Rwanda, my ICRW colleague Amy Gregowski and I had the opportunity to meet members of the Rwanda Women’s Network (RWN) and learn about their effort to support survivors of the 1994 genocide.

  • Posted by Ann Warner on Wednesday, November 17, 2010
    Legislation for Women’s Rights
    New Laws Advance Rights, But Sustainable Change Takes Time

    During a recent meeting in Ethiopia with lawyers and advocates working for women’s rights in East Africa, my colleagues and I were inspired to see how countries have made strides in advancing women’s empowerment and gender equality on a policy level.