November 25 International Day Against Violence Against Women reviewing the Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Violence Against Women, the "Belem do Para Convention".

This year the Latin American and Caribbean Women's Health Network, LACWHN, launched a campaign to monitor the application of the Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Violente Against Women, known as the "Belem do Para Convention." Adopted by the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) on June 9, 1994, this Convention is of great significance for women's human rights due to certain characteristics which distinguish it from other international conventions or treaties. The Belem do Para Convention:

* Contains broad definitions of violence against women and emphasizes that the State as well as institutions, families and individuals can perpetrate these acts;

* Stresses that violence against women is a violation of their human rights;

* Defines the responsibilities of the State to take action to eliminate official and private violence;

* Urges States to pay special attention to women who are particularly vulnerable to violence due to their age, race/ethnicity, status as immigrants of displaced persons, etc.;

* Guarantees individuals and groups the right to petition the Inter-American Court on Human Rights when States fail to fulfill their responsibilities in this regard.

Considering the far-reaching implications of this international instrument, LACWHN is preparing for the celebration of the 10th anniversary of its adoption by inviting organizations and networks to send proposals to promote renewed understanding of the convention's application, including identification of achievements, weaknesses and gaps, and greater understanding of related local and national laws.

Groups may also present projects that stress the connections between the reforms currently underway in health, education and justice and States' commitments as described in the Convention.

We hope to continue this campaign in 2004. In this effort, the results of the group's activities in 2003 will be systematized and analyzed by LACWHN's Board of Directors and will be presented to the OAS as a contribution to the prevention, punishment and eradication of violence against women. This information will also serve as a lobbying tool for women's movements in each country to insist that governments implement the Convention and to draw attention to failures to do so.

Objectives

* Contribute to the prevention, punishment and eradication of violence against women in all its forms (sexual, domestic, racial, etc.)

* Mobilize women's organizations throughout the region to take a public stand on: the application of the Convention in their countries; the existence or absence of appropriate laws and mechanisms; the degree of public awareness of these laws; and the extent to which they are understood and utilized by women in defense of their civil rights. This also includes training women to encourage local and national governments to apply the Convention.

* Demand the participation of the governments and all sectors involved to work together in the prevention, punishment and eradication of violence against women and for comprehensive care for women victims of violence, including access to resources that will help them avoid later consequences of this aggression.

* Encourage the prevention of violence by providing women with tools to help them actively identify and reject any behavior that threatens their rights and physical integrity.

* Demand that health care services provide comprehensive care for women victims of violence and women survivors of abuse. This implies confirming the existence of emergency and out-patient care and evaluating the quality of care in these services, as well as evaluating whether local and national governments routinely train health care professionals in the appropriate treatment of women victims of violence.

Groups were encouraged to develop a range of projects for this campaign, including promotional activities (radio or TV programs, publication of articles, press conferences, press releases); public events (marches, fairs, educational stands); consciousness-raising activities (talks, conferences, showing of videos); or interactive group events (workshops, roundtables, fora). Preference also was given to initiatives that seek to engage local or national government in some form of dialogue.

These proposals contributed to:

1. Evaluate the quality of local laws to respond to the problem of violence against women;

2. Encourage women in the community to identify judicial mechanisms for handling the different forms of violence against women.

3. Promote active advocacy with legislators, health care professionals, educators and police to sensitize them to the issue.

4. Establish discussion groups for women who want to share their experiences of violence and counsel them on the protection of their rights and on additional legal and medical services.

"Every woman has the right to the recognition, enjoyment, exercise and protection of all human rights and freedoms embodied in regional and international human rights instruments ..."

"Every woman is entitled to the free and full exercise of her civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, and may rely on the full protection of those rights as embodied in regional and international instruments on human rights. The States Parties recognize that violence against women prevents and nullifies the exercise of these rights."

--Belem do Para Convention, Articles 4 and 5

For more information, contact Paula Ortiz, LACWHN Coordinating Office, e-mail: [e-mail]; tel.: [phone]; fax: [phone]; website: http://www.reddesalud.org