Violence Against Women

Violence Against Women

Whether it happens to a celebrity, a TV reporter covering a revolution, or a Congolese villager, violence against women is pervasive.

A shocking one out of three women worldwide and one out of four in the U.S. has been the victim of violence. Yet many of these crimes go unreported, in part because suffering a sexual assault still carries a heavy stigma. In some countries, rape is not even recognized as a crime.

Some attacks cross cultural barriers—such as domestic violence and sexual assault—while others are more common in certain regions, such as the acid violence and the abuse that child brides often face. In times of crisis, conflict, or economic scarcity, violence against women frequently increases.

Still, many women around the world are fighting back. Earlier this year, journalist Lara Logan shared her story of being sexually assaulted while covering Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak’s resignation in order to raise awareness about the dangers female war correspondents face. In Yemen, a 9-year-old girl marched up courthouse steps to demand a divorce from a man more than three times her age. And many Congolese rape victims have marched to bring international attention to their country’s rape crisis, risking arrest to tell their stories and prevent future attacks.

By speaking out against gender-based violence, these brave women are helping to end the crimes that so often go unacknowledged and unpunished.

Solutions

Legal Momentum

Legal Momentum

Legal Momentum is the nation's oldest legal defense and education fund dedicated to advancing the rights of all women and girls. For more than 40 years, Legal Momentum has made historic contributions through litigation and public policy advocacy to advance economic and personal security for women. Take Action »

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Swayam

Swayam

Swayam is a women’s rights organization committed to ending violence against women and children, based in Kolkata, India. Swayam literally means ‘oneself’ and was set up to provide a holistic support service to women facing violence in their lives. Take Action »

Instituto Maria da Penha

Instituto Maria da Penha

The mission of the Maria da Penha Institute is to enlarge and create mechanisms to restrain and prevent domestic and family violence against women. They discuss, deploy and implement special projects of social protection policies to women through education, work and income, and sustainable development. Take Action »

Movimento de Mulheres de São Gonçalo (MMSG)

Movimento de Mulheres de São Gonçalo (MMSG)

The Women's Movement in São Gonçalo, a civil society organization founded in 1989, has as main objectives to fight in defense of women's rights and against discrimination and inequalities arising from sex, race/ethnicity, religion and income. Take Action »

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