Released last October, the UNFPA Report stresses that "education, reproductive health and economic opportunity for women are three particularly strategic interventions necessary to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. Also critical is eliminating violence against women."

Article 1: Any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivations of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.

Article 2 of the Declaration states that the definition should encompass, but not be limited to, acts of physical, sexual, and psychological violence in the family, community, or perpetrated or condoned by the State, wherever it occurs.

Gender-based violence occurs in all countries and among all ethnic and socioeconomic groups. In wealthy countries and poor, it constitutes one of the most serious and widespread of human rights abuses. It knows no boundaries.

Humanitarian emergencies: UNFPA co-ordinates UN response to gender-based violence in humanitarian settings. It provides direct support for the treatment and support of survivors.

Legislative reform and the enforcement of existing laws: UNFPA advocates the promotion and protection of the rights of women and girls. It promotes the right of women and girls to reproductive health and informed consent. It also works to raise awareness among governments, media, healthcare providers, women and communities of regulations and policies that directly affect women and girls.

Community and medical interventions: UNFPA sensitizes and trains healthcare providers in order to better meet the special needs of survivors. The organization also educates military personnel and the police on how to recognize and respond to gender-based violence, in addition to raising awareness around the issues of HIV and reproductive health. UNFPA also works closely with governments to address the ever-widening threat posed by human trafficking and supports women and girls in their recovery and return.

One of the main challenges facing women and human rights workers is gender discrimination and the impunity that it invariably spawns. In many societies, gender-based violence is not considered a crime.

Women and girls who are thus victimized, get neither the support nor judicial redress that the crimes against them warrant. In many settings survivors are stigmatized and rejected while perpetrators go free.

While many governments are making progress in amending laws that discriminate against women and girls, implementation and lack of resources continues to be a major obstacle to ending impunity.

Where women and girls are seen as no more than chattel or only objects for sexual gratification, violence will continue to be a major problem. The roots of gender-based violence is extremely complex, but is generally believed to be based on the supposition that women and girls are somehow less than equal and are thus not entitled to the same respect and security of person as men and boys.

Talk to your friends, write to your legislators, politicians, to your newspapers. Phone into talk shows, teach your children and speak to your parents. Don't be afraid to tell anyone -- male of female -- that gender-based violence is NOT okay, that it is not a "normal" part of gender relations and should never be tolerated under any circumstances whatsoever.

Human rights should not be confined to only one half of the population. Everyone is entitled to respect and security -- irrespective of gender, religion, ethnicity or socioeconomic status. Human rights for women mean human rights for all.

In 1999 the General Assembly designated Nov. 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, encouraging international organizations, NGO's and governments to take initiatives in order to make people more aware of this disease.

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