Despite starting at 8:30 am in the morning, the ICW-CIF parallel event on the 15th of March, “Social Protection Measures on Health and Violence Against Women,” was also very well attended. ICW President Jungsook Kim warmly welcomed the speakers and participants and spoke of the important role of social protection to promote good health of women and girls and to prevent violence against women.  As the moderator, ICW Vice President, Linda Liu, pointed out that according to the World Health Organization, violence against women is a major public health issue and the cause of serious short or long-term physical, mental, sexual and reproductive health problems for women and girls. She emphasized that social protection helps to prevent poverty from unexpected health expenses and if properly designed, can transform society through preventing violence against women and promoting social equity, women’s empowerment and gender equality.

 

Dr. Mary Ellsberg, the Executive Director of the Global Women’s Institute at George Washington University and a scholar on violence against women, spoke of the deep impact of violence against women on the mental and physical health and welfare of victims. She provided examples of effective social protection such as access to justice, rehabilitation services, survivor centered programs, and inclusion of social components in the program. She further described some best practices like engagement of the whole community, combination of multiple approaches, time frame of at least 6 months, as well as training on gender equality and changing social norms.

 

Amb. Gertrude Mongella stated that everyone has a right to health and life, but the disruption to a girl’s health starts from early marriages, sexual violence and social violence. She suggested finding solutions to stop military conflicts as one answer to preventing these forms of violence, often more prevalent in areas of political conflicts and wars. 

 

The next speaker, Dr. Soon-Young Yoon, former chair of NGO CSW, spoke on how universal health care is an important social protection and financing for health. In her conclusion, she warned that the current backlash against women’s empowerment in the world, the shrinking space for civil society in the name of counter-terrorism and the underfinancing of United Nations form obstacles to universal health care and progress in women’s rights. 

 

Dr. Mohinder Watson, ICW Representative to United Nations in Geneva, enlightened the audience with a comprehensive report on types, causes and effects of violence against women, data on violence against women from several countries, impact of child marriages on health of the girl child, and examples of programs that lead to prevention of violence against women. She concluded by stressing the responsibility and power of women to bring change.

 

The last speaker Dr. Jun-hui Joo talked about the importance of legislation and gave examples of good practices from some countries. With people from the next event waiting by the door, Mazal Renford, ICW International Relations and Peace Advisor, added that changing attitudes and minds of people, especially about violence against women, should start from early education for both boys and girls.