ADDC Bulletin November 25th, 2012
Special Edition: UN International Day for the
Elimination of Violence against Women
CONTENTS
ADDC Bulletin November 25th, 2012 ....................................................................................1
Special Edition: UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women..................1
CONTENTS .......................................................................................................................1
Welcome to the ADDC Special Edition Bulletin- UN International Day for the
Elimination of Violence against Women November 25th 2012 .................................. 3
Disclaimer: .....................................................................................................................3
UPDATES .................................................................................................................... 3
Background to International Day .......................................................................................3
Secretary-General, Citing Impunity, Stigma in Message Marking Day for Elimination of Violence
against Women, Says Perpetrators, Not Victims, Should Feel Disgrace ...................................4
UN launches initiative to highlight commitments to end violence against women and girls ........5
Panel Discussion on Preventing and Ending Violence against Women with Disabilities ..............6
White Ribbon Day Campaign 2012 .....................................................................................6
White Ribbon Day, 25th November 2012 ............................................................................6
ADDC Supports White Ribbon Day .....................................................................................7
Picture of CBM & ADDC colleagues who turned up to work wearing orange ............................. 7
AusAID’s programs to eliminate violence against women ......................................................8
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Aboriginal community rallies in support of White Ribbon Day ................................................9
A violence-free world for women to expedite national progress .............................................9
Domestic violence and women with disabilities: an abuse of power ........................................9
UN Secretary-General on the Role of Youth in Ending Violence against Women( 2011 YouTube)
................................................................................................................................... 10
CONFERENCES and EVENTS .................................................................................... 10
Panel: Violence against Women – From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World .................. 10
RESOURCES ............................................................................................................ 10
Fact Sheet on Gender Based Violence .............................................................................. 10
Link to WRD Official Australian site Fact Sheets and Resources ........................................... 10
UN Resources ............................................................................................................... 10
AusAID Resources ......................................................................................................... 11
IWDA Campaign ............................................................................................................ 11
Gender and Disability: An Overview of the Status of Women with Disabilities in Australia ....... 11
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Welcome to the ADDC Special Edition Bulletin- UN International Day for the
Elimination of Violence against Women November 25th 2012.
Disclaimer:
ADDC does not necessarily endorse all opinions that are within the contents of our information
and we make every attempt to validate information prior to distribution. If you notice any
anomalies or have information on updated versions of our information, please forward to ADDC
Secretariat.
UPDATES
“Violence against women and girls takes many forms and is widespread throughout the
globe. […] On this International Day, I urge governments and partners around the
world to harness the energy, ideas and leadership of young people to help us to end
this pandemic of violence. Only then will we have a more just, peaceful and equitable
world.”
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
Source: UN
Background to International Day
By resolution 54/134 of 17 December 1999, the United Nations
General Assembly designated 25 November as the
International Day for the Elimination of Violence against
Women, and invited governments, international organisations
and NGOs to organize activities designed to raise public
awareness of the problem on that day. Women's activists have
marked 25 November as a day against violence since 1981. This
date came from the brutal assassination in 1960, of the three Mirabal sisters, political activists in
the Dominican Republic, on orders of Dominican ruler Rafael Trujillo (1930-1961).
On 20 December 1993 the General Assembly, by resolution 48/104, adopted the Declaration on
the Elimination of Violence against Women
Women with disabilities experience higher rates of gender-based violence, sexual abuse, neglect,
maltreatment and exploitation than women without disabilities.1 Violence may be experienced in
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In his 2006 In-Depth Study on All Forms of Violence against Women, the Secretary-General observed that surveys conducted in
Europe, North America and Australia have shown that over half of women with disabilities have experienced physical abuse, compared
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the home and in other settings, including institutions, and may be perpetrated by care givers,
family members or strangers, among others. Violence against women with disabilities can also
take the form of forced medical treatment or procedures, including forced sterilization, the
incidence of which has been documented in many countries and regions.
Significant barriers exist to escaping violence, reporting such crimes, and in accessing justice and
services. These include fear of losing independence or fear of retaliation, lack of access to
communications, barriers to mobility and lack of transportation to police stations or other services
that could provide assistance, lack of accessible information or education regarding violence, and
reliance upon a perpetrator for assistance with essential life activities.2 Prevention, care and
recovery programs for women who have experienced violence often lack a disability-perspective.
Source: UN
Secretary-General, Citing Impunity, Stigma in Message Marking Day for
Elimination of Violence against Women, Says Perpetrators, Not Victims, Should
Feel Disgrace
Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message for the International Day for the
Elimination of Violence against Women, to be observed on 25 November:
Millions of women and girls around the world are assaulted, beaten, raped, mutilated or even
murdered in what constitutes appalling violations of their human rights. From battlefield to
home, on the streets, at school, in the workplace or in their community, up to 70 per cent of
women experience physical or sexual violence at some point in their lifetime. As many as a
quarter of all pregnant women are affected.
All too often, perpetrators go unpunished. Women and girls are afraid to speak out because of a
culture of impunity. We must fight the sense of fear and shame that punishes victims who have
already endured crime and now face stigma. It is the perpetrators who should feel disgraced, not
their victims.
My UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign is engaging Governments, international
organizations, civil society groups, the media and ordinary citizens. Last year, when UNiTE asked
young people around the world how they intended to help advance this critical cause, I was very
encouraged by the responses. Many youth called for an end to ignorance. They said we should
not condone negative attitudes. They demanded that we raise our voices to promote human
rights, and join forces to help victims. One young man said simply that boys could fight violence
against women “by growing up to be responsible and respectful fathers and husbands”.
The United Nations is working on all of these fronts. We are raising awareness through public
outreach programs. Our United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence against Women just this
month announced plans to disburse $8 million to local initiatives in 18 countries. Members of my
to one third of non-disabled women. A/61/122/Add.1, para. 152, citing to Human Rights Watch, “Women and girls with disabilities”,
available at: http://hrw.org/women/ disabled.html.
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For more information on violence against women with disabilities, see A/HRC/20/5, Thematic study of the Office of the High Commission for Human Rights on the
issue of violence against women and girls and disability.
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expanding Network of Men Leaders are addressing violence by raising public awareness,
advocating for better laws and holding Governments accountable.
As we build on these efforts, we must fundamentally challenge the culture of discrimination that
allows violence to continue. On this International Day, I call on all Governments to make good on
their pledges to end all forms of violence against women and girls in all parts of the world, and I
urge all people to support this important goal.
Source: UNDESA
UN launches initiative to highlight commitments to end violence against women
and girls
Picture of UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet.
Photo: UN Women/Ryan Brown →
20 November 2012 – The United Nations agency tasked
with advancing gender equality today announced a new
initiative that will spotlight countries’ commitments to
end violence against women and girls, seeking bold
action and leadership to galvanize efforts to end the
pandemic.
“We all must do better to protect women and prevent
this pervasive human rights violation,” said the Executive
Director of the UN Entity for Gender Equity and the
Empowerment of Women (UN Women), Michelle Bachelet.
According to UN women, currently, there are 125 countries which have laws that penalise
domestic violence. However, up to seven in 10 women continue to be targeted for physical and/or
sexual violence in their lifetime, and 603 million women live in countries where domestic violence
is still not a crime.
The new initiative, COMMIT, asks governments to make national commitments that will be
showcased globally, encouraging countries to come up with new policies to protect victims.
“We hope to see new and improved laws and national action plans that provide for safe houses,
free hotline services and free health and legal aid to survivors,” Ms. Bachelet said. “We count on
education programs that teach human rights, equality and mutual respect, and inspire young
people to take leadership on ending violence against women and girls.”
“We need increasing numbers of women in politics, law enforcement, and peacekeeping forces.
We need equal economic opportunities and decent jobs for women,” she added.
There are high expectations that governments will agree on framework to tackle violence against
women and girls in March at the next session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women,
which is expected focus on this issue, UN Women noted in a news release.
The announcement of the COMMIT initiative comes days before the International Day for the
Elimination of Violence against Women, which falls on 25 November.
Source: UN- 21 November 2012
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Panel Discussion on Preventing and Ending Violence against Women with
Disabilities
United Nations Headquarters - Conference Room 3 (NLB), 23 October 2012, 1:15 - 2:30 p.m.
As a contribution to the 2013 General Assembly High-level Meeting on Disability and
Development and the 57th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), the
Permanent Mission of the Philippines to the United Nations and the Permanent Mission of Armenia
to the United Nations, together with the Division for Social Policy and Development of the
Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DSPD/DESA), UN Women, Women Enabled, Women’s
UN Report Network and the U.S. Federation for Middle East Peace, in collaboration with the
National Organization for Women Foundation (NOW Foundation), organised a panel discussion on
Preventing and Ending Violence against Women with Disabilities.
For full report: http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?navid=46&pid=1602
For Unedited CART Transcript of the Panel Discussion- click on title
White Ribbon Day Campaign 2012
White Ribbon Day, 25th November 2012
Today is White Ribbon Day - 25th November, also known as the UN International Day for
the Elimination of Violence against Women. This day is the annual pinnacle of the White
Ribbon Day campaign to urge men and boys to wear a white ribbon as visible pledges never to
commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women.
WRD began in Australia in 2003. It is Australia's only national, male-led, violence prevention
campaign.
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ADDC Supports White Ribbon Day
ADDC is supporting the ‘White Ribbon Day’ campaign as disability markedly increases the
risk of gender based violence. We request your support to be involved.
In the July 2012, ADDC promoted the UNiTE
Global Youth program to wear orange on the 25th
of each month as a lead up to November 25th and
to create awareness to generate interest and
spark conversations about the issue
(http://saynotoviolence.org/join-say-no/unitecampaign-orange-day ).
Picture of CBM & ADDC colleagues who turned up to work wearing orange
In 2011 ADDC developed a Fact Sheet on Gender Based Violence to encourage awareness and
advocacy on the issue (Refer below to Resources). This was launched on White Ribbon Day 2011.
The Fact Sheet was developed in partnership with ADDC Members and their partners (Monash
University, IWDA, CBM Australia /Nossal Institute for Global Health, Banteay Srei (Cambodia) and
the Cambodian Disabled People’s Organisation) who were working on a research project in
Cambodia: Triple Jeopardy: Gender-Based Violence, Rights Violations and Access to Related
Services for Women with Disabilities in Cambodia. On November 22nd, the findings of this research
were launched in Cambodia. It is anticipated that the final report will be available on December 10th
which is the final day of the 16 Days of Activism on Gender Violence. ADDC will ensure links to this
report are promoted.
From the Cambodian Research launch flyer
Cambodian women with disabilities experience multiple disadvantages resulting from the interplay
between gender, disability and poverty. Disability increases the risk of gender based violence, but is
also a potential outcome of violence. Very little research has been conducted on gender and disability
in Cambodia; this research project therefore provides critical insights into the experiences of highly
vulnerable women. Our research found that women with disabilities experience significantly higher
levels of violence perpetrated by family members than women without disabilities suffer greater
levels of psychological.
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AusAID’s programs to eliminate violence against women
21 November, 2012
Women in Port Vila, Vanuatu, march in support of ending violence
against women. Photo: AusAID→
In some countries in the Pacific two out of three women
have experienced violence at the hands of men. Globally
around 30 per cent of women experience physical,
psychological or sexual violence. As well as devastating
lives and fracturing communities, violence undermines
good development.
AusAID has organised its work on gender equality and
women’s empowerment around four pillars, one of which
is ending violence against women and girls at home, in
their communities, and in disaster and conflict situations.
AusAID’s programs to eliminate violence against women include:

In Indonesia, AusAID’s new four-year Empowering Indonesian Women for Poverty
Reduction program (MAMPU) will improve the welfare of up to three million poor women.
MAMPU aims to strengthen women’s leadership to reduce violence against women. It will
support women’s organisations to engage with the Government of Indonesia and the
private sector to advocate for policy reforms and services for women and their families
affected by violence. Activities that may be supported under this new project include
support for centres helping victims of domestic violence, public awareness campaigns on
the issue of domestic violence and women’s rights and legal and policy reform to reduce
discriminatory legislation.

In the Pacific, the Australian Government will commit $320 million over the next 10 years
for activities under the new initiative Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development. One of
the three key focus areas of the initiative is to increase safety for women through better
services for survivors of violence, access to justice and preventing violence. Over 10 years,
we expect the initiative to support more than 150,000 women who experience violence by
providing services such as counseling, medical assistance, and safe shelter. This initiative
will also support prevention activities and women’s groups, male advocates and Pacific
leadership networks to assist them to act as drivers of social change.
Australian funding has helped Pacific countries respond to violence against women and provide
services for survivors, for example:

the Vanuatu Family Protection Act, which came into effect in 2009 after 11 years of
advocacy by women’s rights activists
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
the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre, which has provided over 3,500 services to survivors of
violence each year since 2009
Source: AusAID
Aboriginal community rallies in support of White Ribbon Day
By Jodie van de Wetering and Meg Strang
Dubbo's Aboriginal community has spoken out against domestic violence, at one of
several White Ribbon Day events scheduled for western NSW.
White Ribbon Day is a United Nations-declared day to raise awareness of violence against women.
One third of Australian women will report sexual of physical violence at some point in their life,
and family violence is a major cause of homelessness for women and children.
Link: http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2012/11/22/3638888.htm
Source: ABC Western Plains
A violence-free world for women to expedite national progress
A regular contributor to the ADDC Bulletin, Parvez Babul has forwarded us his article published
today.
…..To mark the day, different human rights organisations come up with their programs in
Bangladesh as well as across the world. It underlines the need for continued action to eliminate
violence against women and implement projects to enable women, especially the poor girl
children, to be rid of any violence or any threat thereof. It also underlines the need for
campaigning to make people aware about the causes and consequences of violence.
Full article:
http://www.thefinancialexpressbd.com/index.php?ref=MjBfMTFfMjVfMTJfMV8xNTNfMTUxMDcx
Source: Parvez Babul
Domestic violence and women with disabilities: an abuse of power
Disabled women are twice as likely to be victims of domestic violence as other women – and it's
harder for them to get help and get away, too
Link to full article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/nov/19/domestic-violence-disabledwomen-abuse?CMP=twt_gu
Source: The Guardian
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UN Secretary-General on the Role of Youth in Ending Violence against Women(
2011 YouTube)
On the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 25
November, UN Youth Champion Monique Coleman interviews UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon
on the role youth can play in ending violence against women and girls.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRSnrSRHcYk&feature=channel_video_title
CONFERENCES and EVENTS
Panel: Violence against Women – From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World
Event: Panel: Violence against Women – From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World
Start: November 29, 2012 7:30 am
End: November 29, 2012 8:30 am
Cost: Free
Tickets: Register
Phone: 03 9650 5574
Venue: BMW Edge
Address: Federation Square, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
Source: IWDA
RESOURCES
Fact Sheet on Gender Based Violence
Link to PDF:WRD Fact Sheet_FINAL
Link to Word Doc: Fact Sheet on Gender Based Violence and Disability
Link to WRD Official Australian site Fact Sheets and Resources:
http://www.whiteribbon.org.au/resources/facts
International White Ribbon Campaign: http://whiteribbon.ca/international


Report of the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences
Selected Resources: Preventing and Ending Violence against Women with Disabilities

UN Resources:

Virtual Knowledge Centre to End Violence against Women and Girls
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Press Materials
Publications
Fact Sheets
UNiTE Framework for Action
Secretary-General's Database
Campaign Posters
Webcast
Multimedia
Official UN Documents
Statements
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AusAID Resources:

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White Ribbon Day 2012 [external website]
Opportunities for All: Gender Thematic Strategy
IWDA Campaign:
http://www.iwda.org.au/?s=White+ribbon+day+&x=9&y=7
Gender and Disability: An Overview of the Status of Women with Disabilities in
Australia
Link: http://www.wwda.org.au/snapshot.htm
Source WWDA
This Bulletin dedicated to the many women who are taking a
courageous stand to break away from gender based violence and to
Julie and Rachelle, two friends who were not so fortunate.
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ADDC is an Australian, international network focusing attention, expertise and action on
disability issues in developing countries; building on a human rights platform for disability
advocacy.
To join ADDC please complete and return pages 3 & 4 of the membership package, to submit
information or find our more contact:
ADDC Executive Officer
Christine Walton
T 1800 678 069
cwalton@cbm.org.au
www.addc.org.au
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