Heise, Lori; Ellsberg, Mary; Gottemoeller, Megan. 1999. "Ending Violence Against Women." Population Reports, Series L. No. 11.

Baltimore: Population Information Program, John Hopkins University School of Public Health (JHUSPH); Takoma Park: Center for Health and Gender Equity (CHANGE). Vol. XXVII, No. 4, December. 43p.

This themed issue focuses on abuse within marriage and other intimate relationships; and coerced sex. It examines how abuse affects women's reproductive health, overall health and development and how health care providers can ask about abuse, help clients create a personal safety plan and promote non-violent relationships. Health providers are critical in addressing VAW as in many countries the health care system is the only institution that interacts with almost all women at some point in their lives. But they have been slow to respond due to lack of technical competence and resources; cultural stereotypes and negative social attitudes; and institutional constraints. Ending VAW needs coordinated strategies among the various sectors of society and at community and national levels. One way is to enforce policies and laws that make violent behaviour more costly to abusers. For example, an innovative judge in Texas, USA sentenced abusers to "shame sentences", ordering one man to apologise to his wife publicly and another to carry a sign around a local shopping mall that read, "1 went to jail for assaulting my wife. This could be you." Similarly, Indian activists stage dharnas, a form of public shaming and protest, in front of the house or workplace of abusers. The publication ends with a comprehensive bibliography of 500 titles.

Source: Population Information Program, JHUSP, 111 Market Place, Suite 310, Baltimore, MD 21202, USA; CHANGE, 6930 Carroll Avenue, Suite 910, Takoma Park, Maryland 20912, USA; Tel: [phone].