Say NO to violence against women

The Specific Issues Committee, Women and Poverty encourages readers to support the latest campaign from UNIFEM which calls for the world to address the issue of violence against women. The committee also provides a reminder of the importance of fair trade throughout our world.

Say NO to Violence against Women!
United Nations Development Fund for Women UNIFEM
According to UNIFEM, at least one out of every three women around the world has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime — with the abuser usually someone known to her. Violence against women and girls is a universal problem of pandemic proportions. Perhaps the most pervasive human rights violation that we know today, it devastates lives, fractures communities, and stalls development.

Last week, UNIFEM’s latest campaign calling for all people to raise their voices against Violence Against Women was launched by UNIFEM Goodwill Ambassador Nicole Kidman.

The Specific Issues Committee, Women and Poverty encourages readers to support an ever-growing movement of people who speak out to put a halt to this shameful human rights violation. Every signature counts – YOUR signature counts! Support UNIFEM’s campaign to Say No to Violence against Women! CLICK HERE.

For further information visit Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia: Women and Poverty.

FAIR TRADE
World Fair Trade Day (May 10)
The mission of IFAT – the global network of Fair Trade Organisations, is to improve the livelihoods and well being of disadvantaged producers by linking and promoting fair trade organisations and speaking out for greater justice in world trade.

Fairtrade Fortnight (May 3-17)
Oxfam – During Fairtrade fortnight, Oxfam is highlighting issues faced by small-scale farmers in developing countries who have little bargaining power in an industry dominated by a few large and powerful international coffee companies.

From: Specific Issues Committee, Women and Poverty (Sisters Leonie Crotty, Miriam Grech, Angela Reed, Anne Ryan). The Committee warmly invites your response to the article or the issue.
Email: women.poverty@mercy.org.au
 
Contact: Carmel Heagerty RSM, Institute Justice Co-ordinator
Email: Institute.Justice@mercy.org.au

Say NO to violence against women

November 28 – the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women – is a day we need to remember. We read in many articles that women and girls all over the world are especially vulnerable to particular types of violence such as domestic violence, incest, rape, people trafficking, female genital mutilation and ‘honour crimes’.

One in three Australian women will experience physical or sexual violence in her lifetime. This is one of the most widespread and serious human rights abuses in Australia (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2006). That figure also sums up the crisis confronting women throughout the world, but thanks to various activists a number of actions have been taken in an attempt to eliminate violence.

As we approach the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the Institute’s Specific Issues Committee, Women and Poverty, has prepared a backgrounder on “Women and Violence” for individual or group reflection.