Archives, Stop violence against women, Amnesty International Australia

The Gender Trap: Women, Violence and Poverty

Why is it that more than two thirds of the world’s poor are women, although women are only half of the world’s population? Read Amnesty International's report The Gender Trap: Women, Violence and Poverty to find out more on the state of women in the world today.

The women of Bosnia and Herzegovina are still waiting

In December 2008, Amnesty International delegates visited Bosnia and Herzegovina to conduct field research on the legacy of war crimes of sexual violence. Whose Justice? The Women of Bosnia and Herzegovina Are Still Waiting, is a result of this investigation.

The total abortion ban in Nicaragua

Nicaragua criminalised abortion in all circumstances on 9 July 2008. One year on, Amnesty International has concerns about the human rights violations resulting from the new penal code.

Where to go for help

A list of organisations in each state helping women who are targeted by violence. If you or someone you know needs assistance, please contact one of these services.

Cover of Amnesty International's report on an Australian National Plan of Action to eliminate violence against women and children

Setting the Standard: New NPOA report released

We've released a report that could provide a blueprint for an Australian National Plan of Action to eliminate violence against women.

Safe schools: Every girls right

Education is a crucial step in empowering women, and breaking cycles of poverty, violence and disease. Education is every girl's right. Girls around the world still however face many barriers to education.

Fact sheets : Stop Violence Against Women

Learn more about violence against women in Amnesty International Australia's special fact sheet series. The nine fact sheets cover a range of issues relating to violence towards women, including domestic violence in Australia, rape in conflict, mythbusting and the call for a National Plan of Action.

Papua New Guinea: Violence against women - Not inevitable, never acceptable

Amnesty International visited three provinces of Papua New Guinea in October 2005 to research the issues and hear from local women. The resulting report highlights women's under-representation in society, the 'cultural' excuses for violence against women, lack of government accountability and the ineffective measures taken by police to address the issue.

Women and war

Violence against women during conflict has reached epidemic proportions. Mass rape is frequently used systematically, as a weapon of war. During conflict women are physically and economically forced to become prostitutes, sometimes in order to secure the basic necessities for their families. Women and children are also the majority of refugees and internally displaced persons.

The state failing victims of violence against women

Violence against women goes widely unreported. There are various factors which prevent women from reporting incidents of violence, such as fear of retribution, lack of economic means, emotional dependence, concern for children and no access to redress. Few countries have special training for the police, judicial and medical staff to deal with rape cases.

HIV/AIDS

Increasingly, violence against women is recognized as a major public health concern. Violence can affect woman's reproductive health as well as other aspects of her physical and mental well being. Sexual violence against women has led to higher infection rates of HIV/AIDS than among men of the same age group.