Men, Women and Violence: A collection of papers from CODESRIA Gender Institute 1997

Gender-based violence - mainly by men on women, but also by women on men and between members of the same sex - is alarmingly widespread across a variety of cultures. It has been and remains prevalent in so-called traditional societies, in Africa and elsewhere, ands is also apparently on the increase in developed societies. Violence against women in particular is a global problem, in the home, in the neighbourhood and at worked, with rape, assault, wife battering and beating, and sexual harassment among the most obvious manifestations. These are recognised as gross violations of human rights by the United Nations and other world bodies. An international bill of rights for women, the Convention on the Elimination of all Focus of Discrimination Against Women (CEDEAW), was adopted by the United Nations as long ago as 1979, and over 160 countries are party to it. In addition, women are protected by the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment of Punishment (CAT) 1984 and the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Being Subjected to Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (1975). Yet the problem at grassroots is getting worse throughout the world. Men, Women and Violence is a selection of papers resulting from the 1997 CODESRIA Gender Institute.