ESCWA releases three studies on Violence Against Women in the Arab region

More than 70% of all women in the world are subjected to violence whilst 500000 to 2 million are trafficked every year.  Of the latter, 80% are women.  One in every five women is subjected to rape or to attempted rape throughout her life.  One in every three women is subject to physical violence in her life as well as to forced sex in addition to some 130 million women and girls who have been subjected to FGM in a number of Arab and African countries.
These statistics were presented by Lana Baydas, First Social Affairs Officer Center for Women- ESCWA, during an event organised by ESCWA last Friday and in which three studies on violence against women in the Arab world were released.
The studies were the following: “Policies to Empower Women in the Arab Region: Combating Violence against Women and Girls", conducted by the ESCWA and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of with support from the Norwegian Embassy in Lebanon. The second entitled: “Trafficking of women and children in the Arab region: A regional perspective”, where the third study was conducted in partnership with ABAAD and titled: Frameworks For Combatting Violence Against Women in the ESCWA Region”.
According to the ESCWA centre for women, Samira Atallah, the studies seek to develop a knowledge base on this issue as well as to provide comprehensive information on this dangerous phenomenon that Arab women are subjected to. The studies also aim to tease out recommendations and suggestions for developing laws and services to support national and regional efforts seeking to combat violence against women, within the framework of international human rights frameworks, including addressing the recommendation of the CEDAW committee, the provisions of the Beijing Platform of Action and the recommendations of the CSW. It is to be noted that the conclusions of the latter in March 2013 during its 57th session, indicated that all countries of the world should commit themselves to use all possible juridical, social, legal, and economic means to protect and strengthen human rights and basic freedoms for women and should provide care for women victims of violence and punish perpetrators of violence.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Akhbar, NNA 16 December 2013