Voices Against Violence
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One billion women will be victims of violence in
their lifetime.
Gender-based violence is one of the most pervasive and, yet, least-recognized human rights abuses in the world. As many as one in every three women has been beaten, coerced into sex or abused in some other way – most often by someone she knows, including by her husband or another male family member.
This violence leaves survivors with long-term psychological and physical trauma; tears away at the social fabric of communities; and is used with terrifying effect in conflict settings, with women as the main target.
It doesn't have to be this way. Women and men from all walks of life are joining together to help bring an end to these pervasive, and often deadly, acts of violence.
CARE's Work to Tackle Violence Against Women
CARE works with communities, governments and local groups around the world to prevent and address gender-based violence.
By including gender equity in all our programming, our approach by addresses underlying causes of gender-based violence, while improving legal, health and support services for survivors; empowering women and girls; and working with men and boys.
CARE is currently implementing projects in more than 20
countries that are explicitly focused on reducing and mitigating
gender-based violence. Dozens more projects address
gender-based violence as a cross-cutting theme, particularly
projects in maternal health; education; and HIV and AIDS prevention and treatment. Providing access to counseling
services, support and care through women's savings
and loans groups, for example, has proven to be an effective
way of educating women of their rights and helping
them find the support they need.
We alsoadvocate at national and international levels to influence laws and policies to better protect and empower women.
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Communities in Crisis
Here are a few examples of our work in communities around the world, in particular places that are curently – or have recently – experienced conflict and disaster:
In the Horn of Africa
Newly arrived refugees have consistently reported an extremely high rate of violence, rape or abduction, and women and girls always face an elevated risk in refugee camp situations. Although the security situation currently prevents CARE from operating our regular system of psychosocial counseling through drop-in centers, we are continuing door-to-door campaigns, focus group discussions and road shows on sexual and gender-based violence and psychosocial support services. Our recent campaigns, with the crucial participation of CARE refugee workers, have reached over 34,000 people in Ifo and Dagahaley camps.
Read accounts of gender-based violence on CARE's blog:
In Afghanistan
Education-related violence is an alarming trend in Afghanistan, with girls at particular risk of attacks and other scare tactics aimed at keeping them out of school. CARE is working with communities in the war-torn country to improve social acceptance of education and reduce the risk of attack on Afghan schools, teachers and students – especially girls.
In the Balkans
In three countries in the Balkans, CARE works with high school-age youth, especially young men, to promote attitudes and behaviors that discourage violent behavior against women and peers, and promotes dignity and respect for women as equals. The young men in this project are working with local advocacy groups to design multi-media campaigns and school-based programs to advocate for women's rights and prevent violence.
In Burundi
CARE raises awareness and reduces tolerance for violence through targeted community messages via radio and interactive theater. We also train village volunteers to counsel rural women who are experiencing domestic violence, and refer them to the health clinic, if needed. In addition, CARE's village savings and loan associations help increase women's access to economic resources and provide a forum for dialogue and sensitization around issues of violence, gender and discrimination.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo
In the heavily conflict-affected area of Birambizo, North Kivu, CARE provides survivors of violence with medical assistance; psychosocial support; and help in recovering their ability to provide for themselves and their families; and works with communities to help women reintegrate into their former lives.
In Haiti
CARE is working with both men and women to prevent sexual and gender-based violence in the aftermath of Haiti's devastating earthquake, where thousands of people are cramped into makeshift camps without walls and unprotected bathing and toilet areas leave women and girls particularly vulnerable to harassment and sexual violence. We're also helping survivors violence get the help they need to recover from the trauma.
In Sri Lanka
CARE initiated the Stop Violence against Women Partnership to overcome a near-total lack of support services for girls and women who had endured violence in the home or in the context of the war. Together, CARE and our partners helped develop services that assist survivors of violence in a dignified manner. In addition, the partnership gained support of local institutions, such as the police, hospitals and judiciary, who now recognize and treat gender-based violence as a serious social problem and prioritize its prevention.
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Women's Voices: Stories of Survival
Amber Meikle of CARE visited Afghanistan to meet widows affected by violence. Here she – and they – speak out:
Amber: District 7 is one of the poorest parts of Kabul, and I'm here to visit the Sadat women's group – Sadat means Lucky. As I enter a house, a young woman is brandishing a poster of a battered woman that says ‘the lady that suffers violence is like a tree that is broken in two'. At that the ladies burst into discussion, each eager to share their experience of violence.
Narges: "During the time of the Taliban, a lot of girls were married by force. The Taliban would take them. I was afraid that the Taliban would take my daughter. So when she was small I arranged an enagagement to my sister in laws son. I thought this would protect her. Five years ago she was in school and said she wanted to continue to study. This was possible now that the Taliban had gone. But she was engaged to her cousin who did not believe girls should be educated. I wanted her to honour the arrangement. But when I came to this group we discussed the issue. I realised that it was her right to go to school and not to be forced into marriage. Eventually I agreed that she should not marry into this family."
Shabobo: "During the war I lost my husband who was hit by a rocket. My children were 2 and 1 and I was pregnant. Since then I was the victim of a lot of violence from his family. They did not want to give me my inheritance, so they would beat me.
Without this group I would not have been able to fight. I would not have known that I could fight. 3 months ago I did receive my inheritance! Many women. Like me. Spend all their time in the home and do not know these things.
Women are not aware of the rights, or how they can get justice, they do not know the systems or how to communicate with them. In this room we are lucky. Now we have justice for ourselves, we will do what we can for other women and share our knowledge and experience."
Maria: "My husband died shortly after our wedding. I lived with his brother who was very cruel. I have two daughters. And he always beat us. He demanded that I marry him as is often the case in Afghan culture. But I refused to marry by force, because I know that a widow is free, and she has rights. I can decide my own life!"
A Voice from the Democratic Republic of Congo
Marie-Claire is a beneficiary of CARE's Wakinamama credit savings and loans program in the eastern part of the country.
My name is Marie-Claire, I am 50 years old and am married with 9 children. I'm from Alunguli Village, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Mai Mai (a rebel group) came to out village, firing gunshots everywhere. They surrounded our house and demanded we open the door. Then, they took my husband, me and my children. They said were going to kill my husband.
I was crying and they forced me to lie down on the floor, and took my clothes off. Four men took turns to have sex with me. My daughter's husband was really angry and tried to fight back, but they killed him. They then raped me again, and raped my children.
If this wasn't enough for our family to deal with, the Mai Mai then took my daughter with them, and kept her in the forest for two years. When she finally came home, she had two children fathered by a rebel.
We're trying to pick up the pieces. Now I have to provide for all my children and grandchildren. Thanks to CARE's savings and loans scheme I can pay the school fees. I am gaining strength. I haven't got quite as many financial worries as I used to although it is still very difficult to get by. I haven't got a house.
I am starting to move on, I've been able to talk to other women about my experiences and am starting to feel better. My desire is to have a house, buy a cow, and to make sure that my children and grandchildren go to school. It's not too much to ask is it?
A Voice from Kenya
The following is a first-hand account of the post-election violence written by a benefeciary of CARE's Supporting Victims of Sexual Violence project. The author has requested anonymity.
I am a resident of Kibera where, until recently, I lived with my husband and 10 children. Violence began in my community on the morning of December 30, 2007 following the Kenya national election. On this date young men roamed through my community, harassing people with knives and stones. When this began I ran to a friend's house to hide and left my children there to keep them safe. In the evening, I decided to go back to my house with my two daughters. When I was at home that evening a group of armed General Service Unit (GSU) men knocked on my door, which I hesitated to open. I eventually opened the door, hoping the men would protect us against the rowdy youth because my husband was not home to protect us. When the men entered they searched the house for any hidden weapons, but could not find any. Then, one of the men demanded that I remove my clothes, while the other two men harassed my daughters. Before I could resist, I was knocked down on the floor and raped while my daughters were assaulted.
Afterwards, I was not able to get to a health facility or get medical care for two days. When I finally got to the hospital, I was asked to return in two weeks for treatment. When I returned, I was given a blood test and found HIV-positive. After getting this news, I reported it to the local chief, who gave me a letter to help me present the case to the nearest police station. When I later reported the case at Kilimani police station, they dismissed me and told me that they didn't handle such cases. After discovering my HIV-positive status, my husband accused me of giving my body to the police and left without returning.
I was eventually admitted to the Mbagathi Hospital for 20 days, where I began antiretroviral treatments. At this point I gained some hope because CARE provided me counseling and helped me gain the confidence to openly discuss my ordeal with the Commission Investigating Post-election Violence. After gaining this confidence, I encouraged other women to share their experiences so that we can provide moral support to each other.
It has been hard to identify the General Service Unit man who abused me, making it difficult to pursue justice. My life has not been the same since my ordeal, so I hope that CARE will continue to help me and other victims get access to counseling and legal aid. This is so important because many police are still abusing women and going unpunished, while women and children continue to suffer.
A Voice from Somalia
Hawo has refused to have her daughters circumcised in line with Somali tradition. The marriage between Hawo's grandfather, an Eritrean, and a Somali, rendered the family "tribeless," causing much suffering, especially during times of war. Hawo lives in a refugee camp in Kenya, after fleeing confict in Somalia.
I have three daughters. In 2002, I told my husband I was not prepared to have them circumcised, as is the tradition of all Somali families. When my husband's mother heard, she complained and tried to force my husband to circumcise them when I was not around. My sisters also complained, saying it was going to bring stigma to my family. When I refused, my mother-in-law forced her son to divorce me. He no longer comes to visit his daughters and gives us no support. He has a new wife.
My decision is making life hard in the camp, but I will never go back on it. I have seen the terrible health problems that girls and women suffer who have been circumcised. There is terrible pain that often lasts a lifetime, and women have terrible problems giving birth.
The type of female genital mutilation practiced here is full infibulation at about five to seven years old. As a mother I could never do that to my children. I love them too much. The girls are often bullied in school and the younger twins, who are 11, have both been badly beaten. One suffers from partial deafness as the injury affected her eardrum. Children shout at them, saying they are dirty.
I was working as a counsellor for CARE in the camp on women's issues, but I have had to stop to look after my children. They were suffering so much bullying and I now have to walk them to and from school.
I try to make other women realise the dangers of what they do to their children, but there are very few women who have had the courage to do what I have done. I think it is because I have lived with discrimination my whole life that I don't care, as long as my daughters don't have to suffer the physical and emotional pain of circumcision.
My hope is to continue trying to make women aware of their rights ... My biggest fear is that someone from my family will take my daughters one night and try to circumcise them. I have no protection and no man in my life to protect us.
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CARE Videos
This selection of videos showcases some of CARE work to help curb violence against women and girls.
Abatangamuco
Abatangamuco is a men's group in Burundi that is working with CARE to help to end deep-rooted gender discrimination in their culture.
Abay Returns: Defying the Tradition of Female Genital Cutting
Abay, an Ethiopian woman who bravely refused to undergo female genital cutting at age 8, became a driving force for change in her community and shed light on the damaging practice.
High Risk Time for Sexual Violence in Haiti
Janet Meyers, CARE's gender advisor, discusses our efforts to curb sexual violence in Haiti's makeshift camps.
Protecting Women in Haiti from Sexual Assault
Dr. Franck Geneus, coordinator of CARE's health program in Haiti, discusses how the current state of emergency is a dangerous threat to women's safety.
Sec. Hillary Clinton Speaks Out Against Violence in the DRC
CARE joins Sec. Hillary Clinton at meeting of aid organizations in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo on August 11th, 2009
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Additional Resources
Click on the links below to learn more about CARE's work to help bring an end to gender-based violence around the world:
- Stories of harassment, violence and discrimination: migrant experiences between India, Nepal and Bangladesh
- CARE Celebrates Introduction of Violence Against Women Act
- CARE Is Working to Prevent Sexual Violence in the Aftermath of Haiti Earthquake
- Ending Poverty: Why Empower Women and Girls?
- Gender-Based Violence: Fact Sheet
- Knowledge on Fire: Girls in Afghanistan Face the Highest Risk of Violence
- Putting an End to Gender-Based Violence: Policy Brief
- "Violence against Women: Global Costs and Consequences": CARE's Submission to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
- Voices Against Violence: Rape as a Weapon
- Witchcraft: An Entrenched Form of Violence Against Women in Nepal
- Young Men Initiative: Promoting Gender Equality and Violence-Free Relationships in the Western Balkins
You may also be interested in:
"Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide"
By Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn
"Half the Sky" is a call to arms against our era's most pervasive human rights violation: the oppression of women in the developing world. With Pulitzer Prize winners Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn as our guides, we undertake a journey through Africa and Asia to meet an extraordinary array of women struggling under profoundly dire circumstances. But we meet, as well, those who have triumphed – including a woman in Burundi who becomes an empowered businesswoman with the support of a CARE village savings and loan program. Through these women's stories, Kristof and WuDunn help us see that the key to progress lies in unleashing women's potential – and they make clear how each of us can help make that happen.
CARE will receive at least 4 percent of revenue when purchases are made through this link >
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