Dear Members of End-violence, During the past two weeks we have discussed the link between violence against women and HIV/AIDS. Thank you for the many valuable suggestions and experiences you shared. The moderators will summarise the main ideas and post them to the Working Group.
During the next few weeks we would like to examine violence against women in post-conflict societies. Post-conflict situations are both horrifying and full of hope. Horrifying because violence against women and adolescent girls increases during the period of conflict as women become targets of opposite warring parties leaving a legacy of brutality and abuse that extends well beyond the conflict itself and characterizes gender relations. Hopeful because post-conflict societies have a rare opportunity to make bold changes that will prevent future violence against women and promote women's human rights overall. Many things are urgently needed in post-conflict societies. This week we would like to focus on needs related to HEALTH, including REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH, and violence against women and girls. In the coming weeks we will look at education, legislation and other issues. We would like to learn from your experience to understand the CRITICAL ACTIONS related to health that can and must be taken during post-conflict situations in order to reduce, eliminate, and manage the post conflict consequences of violence against women. What lessons emerge from post-conflict zones such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Chechnya, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, East Timor, Kosovo, Northern Ireland, Rwanda, South Africa, among others? We also wish to learn from women whose societies are about to begin reconstruction, such as Afghanistan. Last week, at the Summit "Building Women's Leadership in the Reconstruction of Afghanistan" (Brussels), about 40 Afghan women met to hammer out recommendations on a wide range of issues. The Summit produced a Proclamation, which we will post to the Working Group, and can also be found at: http://www.womenlobby.org/Document.asp?DocID=370&tod=19145 These recommendations help us understand what health initiatives these women consider crucial. Considering the Proclamation, and the experience of other post-conflict societies, we look forward to learning from your experience, research results, and cases. KEY QUESTIONS 1. What are the 3-4 CRITICAL ACTIONS related to healthcare that must be taken in post-conflict situations, in order to eliminate violence against women and girls in the future? 2. Where have these actions been taken and what success have they had? 3. What kind of TRAINING is important for doctors, health care and other service providers in post-conflict situations so that they can identify and treat cases of violence against women and girls, including cases of sexual violence? 4. Are there SPECIFIC TRAINING PROGRAMMES for healthcare providers that you recommend for post-conflict situations, such as Afghanistan or any of the countries mentioned above? 5. What can/should the MEDIA in post-conflict situations do to raise awareness of violence against women and girls as a public health issue, reproductive and human rights issue and to help end it? 6. Are there SPECIFIC MEDIA programmes and public awareness materials on violence against women that you recommend for post-conflict societies? 7. Post-conflict societies must rebuild HEALTH CENTERS in urban and rural areas. What can be done to ensure that the health centers are able and willing to identify and treat cases of violence against women and girls? Are there special considerations for rural vs. urban centers? 8. Are there SPECIFIC MODEL PROGRAMMES FOR REBUILDING health centers that you recommend, which can ensure they treat violence against women effectively? 9. Are there SPECIFIC PSYCHOLOGICAL AND OTHER SUPPORT programmes for women and girls who have been victims of violence, which you would recommend for post-conflict societies? 10. Are there specific SCHOOL-BASED OR OUT OF SCHOOL counseling and other health programmes for girls who have been victims of violence, which you would recommend for post-conflict societies? 11. How can those who are outside post-conflict societies best support efforts of women to establish health programmes that address violence against women and girls? 12. Do you know of any programmes or outreach initiatives to MEN and BOYS who have lived through war in order to challenge stereotypes that define their masculine identity and support or justify violence against women? What has been their impact? ***End-violence is sponsored by UNIFEM and receives generous support from ICAP*** To post a message, send it to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe end-violence OR type: unsubscribe end-violence Archives of previous End-violence messages can be found at: http://www.edc.org/GLG/end-violence/hypermail/
