Following is an excerpt from the text of a message from Kofi Annnan, Secretary-General of the United Nations, marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

Violence against women causes untold misery, harms families across generations, and impoverishes communities. It stops women from fulfilling their potential, restricts economic growth, and undermines development. When it comes to violence against women, there are no civilized societies.

You can read the entire message here.

In 2003, the Secretary-General undertook to conduct an in-depth study on all forms of violence against women. The results of that study were issued last month. From the executive summary of the report (PDF document):

Violence against women is a form of discrimination and a violation of human rights. It causes untold misery, cutting short lives and leaving countless women living in pain and fear in every country in the world. It harms families across the generations, impoverishes communities and reinforces other forms of violence throughout societies. Violence against women stops them from fulfilling their potential, restricts economic growth and undermines development. The scope and extent of violence against women are a reflection of the degree and persistence of discrimination that women continue to face. It can only be eliminated, therefore, by addressing discrimination, promoting women’s equality and empowerment, and ensuring that women’s human rights are fulfilled.

See the entire report, and some supplementary material.

1338 days ago