Summary

This publication outlines the Australian aid program's approach to prevent and respond to violence against women.

Description

Violence against women and the fear of violence are significant human rights violations. Globally, at least one in three women is beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused in her lifetime. Violence against women takes many forms–domestic violence in the home, sexual abuse of girls at school, sexual harassment at work, rape by husbands or strangers, or as a tactic of war.

In conflict situations, women and children make up the majority of displaced populations, often more than 80 per cent. In such circumstances, women and girls increasingly become the primary protectors and providers for dependent family members.

At its heart, violence against women is a result of unequal power distribution between men and women, exacerbated by weaknesses in laws, policies and institutions. Long and short-term solutions are necessary, from institutional change to immediate assistance for survivors.

This publication outlines the Australian aid program's approach to prevent and respond to violence against women.

A safe place: AusAID's support to end violence against women [PDF 1.6mb]
A safe place: AusAID's support to end violence against women [Word 45kb]

Available: Electronic Version.

To view Portable Document Format (PDF) files you need a PDF
reader. PDF files can be viewed using a number of different software
products. Some free alternatives include:

NOTE: The Australian Government does not endorse or offer
warranties as to the suitability or safety of any of the above-listed products.
As with any software installation, care should always be taken to verify that
the software being installed is appropriate for your needs and malware-free.

To view Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) files you need either a licensed copy of Microsoft Word, or a free Word Viewer which can be downloaded from www.microsoft.com.au. Rich Text (.rtf) files can also be viewed using this software.