South-East Asia Works to End Violence against Women and Children

UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is partnering with South-East Asian countries to explore ways to better address the issue of violence against women and children in the region.

In order to better explore the underlying causes of violence against women and children, and therefore be better prepared to respond to it, UNICEF and South-East Asian countries held a two-day meeting aimed at strengthening measures against the problem.

Marta Santos Pais, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Violence against Children claimed that “violence against children is hidden, widespread and occurs in all contexts, including where children are expected to benefit from special protection. With strong laws and policies and effective action, violence can be prevented, enabling children’s development to their full potential and ensuring high returns for society as a whole.”

The meeting, held in the Philippines, brought together representatives from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC), experts from the UN Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

It was hoped that the meeting would create better strategies to prevent and eliminate violence against women and children in the region.

Indira Jaising, CEDAW Committee expert, stressed that “violence against women must be seen as a manifestation of unequal power relations in society. All efforts to end violence against women must move from a welfare approach to a human rights approach. States, as duty bearers, have the duty to exercise due diligence to protect, respect and fulfil the rights of women. All religious and cultural discourses that perpetuate the subordinate position of women must be rejected.”

According to the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, "...the full and complete development of a country, the welfare of the world and the cause of peace require the maximum participation of women on equal terms with men in all fields.”

According the recently released report of the independent expert for the United Nations study on violence against children, violence against children exists in every country of the world, cutting across culture, class, education, income and ethnic origin. It occurs in contradiction to human rights obligations and children’s developmental needs, and in some cases it is socially approved, and is frequently legal and State-authorized.

Many of the women and children's rights organizations in South-East Asia are hoping that the meeting will help in the development of a five-year strategy to end the impunity of those who contradict international laws protecting women and children.


(2012-01-31/soschildrensvillages.ca)