Leading to Change: Eliminating Violence Against Women in Muslim Societies

March 1, 2005: Women have been systematically deprived of knowledge and skills that might help them to become better equipped to protect themselves against violence, including knowledge of the existing laws, religious texts, positive cultural resources, international injunctions on human rights, and the demands made by other women for rights in their community and elsewhere. In the WLP Symposium, speakers will address major challenges to eliminating violence against women and girls and discuss grassroots, national, and regional measures needed to raise awareness, initiate reform legislation, and create synergy for ongoing efforts to prevent violence and to promote women's human rights.

March 1, 2005

PRESENTED BY

Women’s Learning Partnership (WLP)
with the support of the
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

WHEN
March 1, 2005

WHERE
The Church Center
777 UN Plaza
New York, NY

READ symposium report. (PDF, 4.5 MB)
VIEW symposium program. (PDF, 907 KB)

PHOTOS of the event.

"Violence against women is an obstacle to the achievement of the objectives of equality, development, and peace. Violence against women both violates and impairs or nullifies the enjoyment by women of their human rights and fundamental freedoms. The long-standing failure to protect and promote those rights and freedoms in the case of violence against women is a matter of concern to all States and should be addressed...In all societies, to a greater or lesser degree, women and girls are subjected to physical, sexual and psychological abuse that cuts across lines of income, class, and culture." -Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women

SYMPOSIUM

Violence against women, a manifestation of the historically unequal power relations between men and women, today remains one of the primary obstacles to empowering women and achieving peace and security for all. Women have been systematically deprived of knowledge and skills that might help them to become better equipped to protect themselves against violence, including knowledge of the existing laws, religious texts, positive cultural resources, international injunctions on human rights, and the demands made by other women for rights in their community and elsewhere. In the WLP Symposium, speakers will address major challenges to eliminating violence against women and girls and discuss grassroots, national, and regional measures needed to raise awareness, initiate reform legislation, and create synergy for ongoing efforts to prevent violence and to promote women's human rights.

Opening Remarks

Mahnaz Afkhami, President and CEO, Women’s Learning Partnership (20:45)

Panel 1: Breaking the Silence: Culture, Conflict & Extremism

Noeleen Heyzer, Executive Director, UNIFEM (12:03)

Ayesha Imam, Chief of Culture, Gender, and Human Rights Branch, UNFPA (21:54)

Sakena Yacoobi, Founder and President, Afghan Institute of Learning (14:38)

Open Discussion (1:07:51)

Panel 2: Shaping the Future Together: International Perspectives

Yakin Ertürk, UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, Its Causes and Consequences (22:41)

Hilary Fisher, Director, "Stop Violence Against Women" campaign, Amnesty International (21:24)

Charlotte Bunch, Founder and Executive Director, Center for Women's Global Leadership (17:51)

Devaki Jain, Development Economist and Women's Rights Activist (19:19)

Open Discussion (47:35)

Panel 3: Leading to Change: Women, Empowerment & Justice

Mahnaz Afkhami, President and CEO, Women’s Learning Partnership (11:47)

Hafsat Abiola, Founder and Executive Director, Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (12:28)

Rabéa Naciri, President, Association Démocratique des Femmes du Maroc, Rabat (19:30)

Amina Lemrini, Board Member, Association Démocratique des Femmes du Maroc, Rabat (5:50)

Zainah Anwar, Executive Director, Sisters in Islam (15:44)

Open Discussion (39:00)

ORDER (CD)

EVENT PHOTOS