IIMSAM Official Observed International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

Doha, Qatar, November 26, 2010 --(PR.com)-- On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, IIMSAM Middle East Office joins women’s groups and individuals campaigning worldwide and calls for full implementation of the 1993 UN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women. While commemorating International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women Dr. Naseer Homoud, Goodwill Ambassador and Director of Middle East office for the Intergovernmental Institution for the use of Micro-algae Spirulina against Malnutrition (IIMSAM), the Permanent Observer to the United Nations Economic and Social Council said “Men have a crucial role to play in stopping violence against women and they will gain from doing so. We need to have the courage to speak out. Violence against women is not only a violation of their human right to be safe from abuse; it also has enormous economic and social costs and adverse impact on the society at large”. He further added “Violence against women, including domestic violence, is a serious affront to human dignity. We must acknowledge that it concerns us all, and all of us must take action to put an end to it”.

The Goodwill Ambassador described violence against women as a violation of human rights and “A nightmare that compromises development”. He said the problem not only exacts an enormous public health toll but also impedes social and economic development by preventing victims from contributing fully to their communities and societies. “The physical, mental, and social consequences of this problem are enormous,” he said. He said that the world cannot achieve the Millennium Development Goals that we talk so much about if women are not allowed the opportunity to grow into what they might become. “The third Millennium Development Goal—achieving equality between men and women—is crucial to all the other goals,” said Dr. Homoud. “Only with gender equality can a woman be in a position to choose style of her life, be free to decide her course of action, be free to protect her own health, and be free to direct her own life”, he urged.

Dr. Homoud asserted that all too often governments pay lip service to the concerns of the international community and citizens as regards to gender-based violence. But the issue is too serious to be overlooked. Eliminating such violence takes much more than adopting new laws and making pledges in international forums. “Implementation presupposes education and strict enforcement of criminal law is the need of hour to combat this menace. It also requires positive measures to ensure women can speak up without fearing retaliation, repudiation or abandonment”, said Dr. Homoud. He went on saying “Fighting violence against women means promoting peace and human security on the international stage. Today is an important moment to reiterate our opposition to all forms of gender-based violence and to underline our support for the international movement for women’s empowerment and gender equality”.

He underlined that women are 70% of the world’s poorest and it is estimated that one in three women worldwide will suffer some form of gender-based violence during the course of her lifetime. Being victim of violence is widely recognized as a cause of mental health problems, including post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and panic attack. Violence against women is multifaceted and linked to unequal gender norms and socio-economic power structures. Women are disproportionately affected by poverty and discrimination; this affects their access to employment, educational opportunities and other resources to improve their lives, making them more susceptible to exploitation. He said “As per reports 80% of the world’s trafficked people are girls under 18 years old. These girls and women are subjected to physical violence, sexual assault and rape, battery, imprisonment, threats and other forms of coercion which goes in direct contradiction of the pledges which are targeted in MDGs. We have to work out and have to ensure that no stones are left unturned for fighting this societal hazard which affects the overall personality of the victimized women”.

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