Feature
Safe Schools: Every girl's right
Schools must be places for children to learn and grow. But many girls all over the world go to school fearing for their safety. This reality threatens many girls' right to an education. Without an education, it is difficult for girls to break the cycles of poverty, violence and disease. Education is a human right, and therefore every girl's right.
Stop Violence Against Women Campaign: Overview
Violence against women and girls is a global pandemic.
- At least one out of every three women has been beaten, forced into sex or otherwise abused in her lifetime.
- Every year, millions of women are raped by partners, relatives, friends and strangers, by employers and colleagues, soldiers and members of armed groups.
- The World Health Organization has reported that up to 70% of female murder victims are killed by their male partners.
Violence affects the lives of women everywhere, cutting across boundaries of wealth, race and culture. In the home and the community, in times of war and peace, women are beaten, raped, mutilated and killed with impunity.
The violence affects women in different ways depending on factors such as their income, who controls it, social status, occupation, ethnicity, religion and sexuality.
Amnesty International's Work
In 2004, Amnesty International launched its global Stop Violence Against Women Campaign to help break the silence around this pandemic. Our aim is to stop the violence and support the work of women’s human rights advocates around the world. With this campaign, Amnesty International is showing that the right of women to be free from violence is integral to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. As long as this violence continues, the promise of the Universal Declaration to humanity cannot be fulfilled.
These are the changes that the Stop Violence against Women campaign focuses on. States must ensure that:
- Survivors of violence and their families have access to justice and compensation.
- The rights of survivors are protected at all times.
- Survivors can escape the violence and begin to heal and rebuild their lives.
- Girls receive an education in a safe environment.
What you can do
"When I became a member of Amnesty International years ago, a seed was planted and it has grown and blossomed into a story. I've recruited new members to Amnesty just by speaking out! If everyone was to start their own chain reaction by planting a seed, just imagine the possibilities. We can change the world." Amy Westbrook, Amnesty member
Here’s how you can stop the violence:
- Take action: Your letters and e-mails can make a difference. Click on the link in the right side bar under Take Action to find opportunities.
- Join Amnesty International’s Action Network on Women’s Human Rights*
- Subscribe to Speak Out, Amnesty International's campaign e-newsletter, to find out where your voice is needed. Look for the subscription form at the bottom of this page.
- Inform yourself: Read Amnesty’s report It’s in our hands: Stop violence against women and other campaign reports listed on the pages on the Stop Violence Against Women campaign site
* Links to these opportunities can be found in the right side bar
Updated: 6 March 2008