Stop Violence Against Women
Encyclopedia
Stop Violence Against Women is a worldwide campaign of Amnesty International
to counter violence against women
.
It was started on 5 March 2004, in preparation before International Women's Day
. It is one of Amnesty's key campaigns. Amnesty considers that domestic
and sexual violence
are serious breaches of human rights
and Amnesty should confront them. The campaign focuses on ending impunity
for those who commit such violence, by pressuring governments to prosecute individuals and change laws to protect women. Amnesty is particularly concerned at the incidence of rape and other violence committed in conflicts such the Second Congo War
and Darfur conflict
.
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
to counter violence against women
Violence against women
Violence against women is a technical term used to collectively refer to violent acts that are primarily or exclusively committed against women...
.
It was started on 5 March 2004, in preparation before International Women's Day
International Women's Day
International Women's Day , originally called International Working Women’s Day, is marked on March 8 every year. In different regions the focus of the celebrations ranges from general celebration of respect, appreciation and love towards women to a celebration for women's economic, political and...
. It is one of Amnesty's key campaigns. Amnesty considers that domestic
Domestic violence
Domestic violence, also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, battering, family violence, and intimate partner violence , is broadly defined as a pattern of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family, or cohabitation...
and sexual violence
Sexual violence
Sexual violence occurs throughout the world, although in most countries there has been little research conducted on the problem. Due to the private nature of sexual violence, estimating the extent of the problem is difficult...
are serious breaches of human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
and Amnesty should confront them. The campaign focuses on ending impunity
Impunity
Impunity means "exemption from punishment or loss or escape from fines". In the international law of human rights, it refers to the failure to bring perpetrators of human rights violations to justice and, as such, itself constitutes a denial of the victims' right to justice and redress...
for those who commit such violence, by pressuring governments to prosecute individuals and change laws to protect women. Amnesty is particularly concerned at the incidence of rape and other violence committed in conflicts such the Second Congo War
Second Congo War
The Second Congo War, also known as Coltan War and the Great War of Africa, began in August 1998 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo , and officially ended in July 2003 when the Transitional Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo took power; however, hostilities continue to this...
and Darfur conflict
Darfur conflict
The Darfur Conflict was a guerrilla conflict or civil war centered on the Darfur region of Sudan. It began in February 2003 when the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army and Justice and Equality Movement groups in Darfur took up arms, accusing the Sudanese government of oppressing non-Arab Sudanese in...
.
See also
- National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against WomenNational Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against WomenThe National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women is a day commemorated in Canada each December 6, the anniversary of the 1989 École Polytechnique Massacre, in which 14 women were singled out for their gender and murdered...
(White Ribbon Campaign) - International Day for the Elimination of Violence against WomenInternational Day for the Elimination of Violence against WomenWomen's activists have marked November 25 as a day to fight violence against women since 1981. On December 17, 1999, the United Nations General Assembly designated 25 November as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women...
- Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against WomenDeclaration on the Elimination of Violence Against WomenThe Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women was adopted without vote by the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution 48/104 of 20 December 1993. Contained within it is the recognition of "the urgent need for the universal application to women of the rights and principles...