Region´s women suffer from high abuse rates 11/26/2009 Six of every 10 women have suffered physical or psychological abuse.

“Latin America and the Caribbean is a dangerous place for women,” warned the United Nations International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women, or INSTRAW. More than half of the region´s women have been subjected to some form of violence.

On Nov. 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the UN agency released a new study on gender violence in Dominican Republic, and in other countries in the region. The date honors the memory of Patria, Minerva and María Teresa Mirabal, three sisters and Dominican activists who opposed the 1930-61 dictatorship of Rafael Leónidas Trujillo and were assassinated Nov. 25, 1960.

“Latin America is the region in the world with the greatest income disparities,” said INSTRAW. “This has a direct impact on the level of violence in the region since it can lead to social exclusion, population displacement, conflicts, violence, poor governance, and other threats to human security. Women and children are especially vulnerable to such threats.”

According to the agency´s figures, more than 52 percent of Bolivian women between the ages of 15 and 49 have suffered from physical violence from their partner, and 17 percent of Haitian women have been victims of sexual violence. Sixty-eight percent of Peruvian women have been psychologically abused by their partners. In the Dominican Republic, where INSTRAW is based, the agency estimates that nearly a quarter of women in urban areas and close to 22 percent of women living in rural zones have been subjected to physical abuse at some point in their lives.

The population needs to be sensitized to the issue, said the report, entitled “Engaging in Security – The Need for Women´s Empowerment in the Dominican Security Sector.” The problem needs to be viewed as a national security issue, and police, the military and judiciary need to be trained so violence against women is stemmed.

For its part, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean presented the report "Not One More! From Words to Action: The Road Ahead,” in Guatemala Nov. 24, which stated that more than 60 percent of women in Colombia and Peru reported emotional abuse such as insults, putdowns, and suffered from their partners controlling their time, movement, and social contacts.

The report said there are "serious deficiencies in law enforcement, service provision and access to justice for victims. Not enough resources have been allocated to preventing, punishing and eradicating all forms of violence as well."

The United Nations launched the initiative “Network of Men Leaders” that aims to allow men and boys, including former politicians, activists, religious and community figures, to stand up and eradicate violence against women

“Break the silence. When you witness violence against women and girls, do not sit back. Act. Advocate. Unite to change the practices and attitudes that incite, perpetrate and condone this violence. Violence against women and girls will not be eradicated until all of us – men and boys – refuse to tolerate it,” said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon. —Latinamerica Press.