Violence Against Women Women’s Health Healthy life expectancy is higher for women than men in most countries, except in parts of Eastern Mediterranean and Asian regions. Globally, average life expectancy at birth is 4.3 more for women

Violence Against Women UN General Assembly Definition The Declaration on the Elimination of VAW defines VAW as “any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or any harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation whether occurring in public or in private life”

Women’s Health As many as 74%of people living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa in 2006 were young women. This region represents 60% of all people living with HIV.

Women’s Health Between 15% and 71% of women around the world have suffered physical or sexual violence committed by an intimate male partner at some point in their life. This has serious consequences for women’s health.

Women’s Health Studies around the world show, including our own SAVI (Sexual Abuse and Violence in Ireland) Report, that up to 1 in 5 women report being sexually abused before the age of 15.

SAVI Report 1 in 5 women and 1 in 6 men experienced sexual abuse in childhood 1 in 5 women and 1 in 10 men experienced sexual abuse as adults 4 in 10 (42%) women and between 2 and 3 in 10 (28%) men experienced some form of sexual abuse in their lifetime Violence Against Women Women’s Health

Croke Park 80,000 Capacity 40,000 women 40,000 men 16,800 women 11,200 men Of the 80,000 people 28,000 experienced some form of sexual abuse in their lifetime

Women’s Health Over the next 10 years an estimated 100 million girls will marry before their 18th. Birthday. They represent one third of adolescent girls in developing countries (excluding China).

Women’s Health Every day, 1600 women and more than newborns die due to preventable complications during pregnancy and childbirth.

Women’s Health Malaria during pregnancy increases the health risks for both mother and child. Yet less than 5% of pregnant women have access to effective interventions.

Women’s Health Women are more exposed than men to harmful fumes from solid fuels used in the home. Indoor air pollution is responsible for approximately 1.5million deaths a year around the world, most of them among women and children.

Women’s Health Breast cancer kills approximately women each year, mostly in developed countries. Cervical cancer globally kills more than women each year, with 80% of these deaths occurring in developed countries.

Responses Needed Protection Provision Prevention

Protection Appropriate Laws Appropriate Sanctions Implementation of the Report from the All Party Committee on Child Protection Children First All laws pertaining to sexual crimes to be contained in one Sexual Offences Act

Provision Immediate provision of Services for the victims of these crimes On-going Funding for Rape Crisis Centres and Refuges Funding and upgrading of Sexual Assault Treatment Units Specialist training and on-going professional development for Gardai, Barristers, Judges and all professionals dealing with sexual crimes

Provision On-going support for the National Steering Committee on Violence Against Women Continued Support for NGOs providing services in the field of VAW Cosc Office: The National Office for the Prevention of Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence. which provides an all of Government response to these crimes

Prevention Parenting Courses Specialist Training for Teachers-Primary and Secondary Information and services available at all third level institutions Public Awareness Raising Campaigns Treatment Programmes for all convicted perpetrators available in Prisons Pre-release assessments and post release supervision for all perpetrators of sexual crimes

Outreach Services Dochas (Womens’s Prison) Coolock Tallaght

Awareness Raising Campaign 90 second advert showing in 250 cinemas nationwide Three 20 second adverts for Television 6 Television Stations

Awareness Raising Campaign Outdoor Poster Campaign Bus Sides Bus Shelters Buses, Trains, Dart and Luas

Unthinkable Unthinkable until someone understands A new beginning at the end of the line

Unspeakable Unspeakable until someone listens A new beginning at the end of the line

Overall Message  You can come through this  Help is available  All it takes is a phone call  The National 24 hour Freephone Number