US: End violence against women: UN chief
06 Mar 2009 4:11 AM
UNITED NATIONS, March 5 AFP - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday called on world leaders to end violence against women in their countries, in a speech ahead of International Women's Day.
"Violence against women cannot be tolerated, in any form, in any context, in any circumstances, by any political leader or by any government," said Ban.
"We must unite. The time for change is now. Only by standing together and speaking out can we make a difference," he added, ahead of Sunday's events to mark women's economic, political and social achievements.
He revealed that around the world one woman in five has been the victim of a rape or an attempted rape, and that in some countries one woman in three has been beaten or subjected to some kind of violent act.
"Violence against women is an abomination. I'd like to call it a crime against humanity. It stands against everything in the United Nations Charter," Ban said.
"This is alarming, this must stop."
He singled out the testimonies he had heard from women victims of the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, saying: "I was shocked.... I was saddened almost beyond expression. I was also very, very angry."
Ban has just returned from a visit to the country following unrest which erupted in August, sparking a humanitarian crisis, and displacing more than a quarter of a million people.
He visited a clinic where women were being treated, and also held talks with Congolese President Joseph Kabila.
"I spoke forcefully about this when I met President Kabila of DRC.... Eighty percent of these sexual violences are perpetrated by the other armed groups, the rebels," Ban said.
"But I told President Kabila 'that doesn't make any excuse'. As the leader of a country, the sovereign leader of a sovereign country, whenever sexual violence may happen, he must be responsible."
