VIENNA, 7 March 2013 - In a statement issued for International Women's Day, the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Yury Fedotov called for countries, international organisations, civil society and the public to work together to halt violence against women.
Describing violence against women and girls as one of the most widespread violations of human rights, Mr. Fedotov said: "We need to work simultaneously in all the countries and regions of the world to change perceptions, and to develop laws on gender equality and the status of women in society. Women and girls must be valued and respected by every sector of every society."
The most violent and dramatic form of violence against women is their murder. UNODC estimates that 84,000 females were the victims of homicide globally in 2010. In many of these cases, the female victims are killed by intimate partners. In Europe, on average, 18 women are killed every day and 12 of them are murdered at the hands of their intimate partners or other family members. It is estimated that as many as six out of 10 women will experience physical or sexual violence, or both, at some point during their life.
In terms of a response to violence against women and girls, Mr. Fedotov stressed: "UNODC is a committed partner in the international community's determination to eradicate every form of violence against women. To do so, we need to develop innovative crime prevention policies that target domestic and family-related violence."
To read the full statement of Mr. Fedotov, please go to:
http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/speeches/statement-on-international-womens-day-2013.html
*****
For media inquiries contact:
David Dadge
Spokesperson, UNODC
Telephone: (+43 1) 26060 5629
Mobile: (+43) 699 1459 5629
Email: david.dadge[at]unvienna.org
