The Final Call

UN chief announces plan to curb violence against women

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In Australia, Canada, Israel, South Africa and the United States, 40 to 70 percent of female murder victims were killed by their partners, according to the World Health Organization. In Colombia, a woman is killed by her partner every six days.

Women aged 15-44 are more at risk from rape and domestic violence than from cancer, car accidents, war and malaria, according to data from the World Bank. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo about 1,100 rapes are being reported each month, with an average of 36 women and girls raped every day.

“Too often, boys and young men are taught to equate masculinity with the use of violence and dominance over women. Too often, such behavior is met with silence and tolerated by other men, which serves only to normalize gender inequality and negative stereotypes,” said Mr. Ban during his message to mark the anniversary.

“We must demand accountability for the violence, and take concrete steps to end impunity. We must listen to and support the survivors,” the secretary-general said.

Each member of the network—which is composed of current and former politicians, activists, religious and community leaders, and others—will work to support the longstanding efforts of women and civil society organizations worldwide to end violence. Their efforts will range from raising public awareness to advocating for better legal protections for women, according to the secretary-general's office.

Secretary-General Ban said new grants for projects that would be awarded this year by the UN Trust Fund, which are to be managed by UNIFEM, will amount to $10.5 million for 13 initiatives in 18 nations and territories. The fund will help network leaders launch programs to raise public awareness, advocate for adequate laws, and act as role models for men and boys worldwide, he explained.

In responding to a reporter's question about why such a small amount of funding was being allocated given the “massive magnitude” of the problem, Mr. Ban said the goal is to raise $100 million a year for the next five years ending in 2015, but only $10 million was available now.

Some of the network members include Gary Barker, International Center for Research on Women; Ted Bunch, New York's A Call to Men; Franco Fattini, minister of foreign affairs of Italy; Ricardo Lagos, former president of Chile; Emmanuel Ochora, Gulu Youth for Action in Uganda; Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, prime minister of Spain; and Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa.

In a video message, Bishop Tutu said, “You are a weak man if you use your physical superiority to assault or brutalize women.”

“The society that permits violence against women is a society that is on its way out,” added the Nobel Peace Prize winner.

Mr. Ban told reporters that there were some positives from his year old UNITE campaign that would be helped by the new network—efforts like counseling male perpetrators of violence and judges whose decisions have forged a movement to fight workplace abuses.

William Lucy, international secretary-treasurer of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, told the press that trade unions are approaching the problem of violence against women in the workplace through a massive education program. The program has been launched by labor organizations around the globe, he said.