Gender, Violence and Rights of the Child: a focus on Europe

Violence against women and girls

Violence against women is a grave violation of human rights. Its impact ranges from immediate to long-term multiple physical, sexual and mental consequences, including death. Violence against women also impacts the rights of children. In spite of the many international and regional treaties that protect children's rights, many children face threats and lack opportunities for access to education and health and social care. They are victims of the worst forms of child labour, violence, sexual abuse, diseases, armed conflict and are exposed to discrimination, marginalisation and exclusion.

Still today, many women and girl children are suffering from various kinds of violence. According to WHO’s 2013 global review of available data, 35 per cent of women worldwide have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence. Eurostat 2012 says 68 % of the victims of trafficking are women and 12 % are girls, and UNHCR Global Trends reports 49% of the refugee population is made up of women in 2013.

Trafficking

Trafficking is often not perceived as a crime by the trafficked women and their families or communities, at least as long as the opportunity of potential social and economic improvement is hoped for by the victims, who are therefore initially compliant. Moreover, it is often believed that trafficking affects only a small portion of impoverished people, often un- or under-educated. This misconception has seriously hindered the ability of organizations and states to combat this issue, sustaining perpetrator immunity and invariably affecting the lives of millions of girls and women.  

In many countries, education, together with awareness raising, becomes a significant factor to fight against trafficking. In this framework, comprehensive and integrated efforts must be put in place that engage in effective dialogue with policy makers in receiving, transit and sending countries through formal education and communication and media. This Conference intends to further explore the links, synergies and opportunities of engaging with these elements simultaneously, based on lessons learnt and research at the European level.

Refugees

Conflicts, violence, human rights violations but also natural disasters are forcing millions of people to leave their homes and to flee from destruction and persecution. The large majority of today's refugees live in the developing world, which means that they find refuge in countries and among people who already struggle with poverty and hardship. Their survival usually depends on the availability of assistance which is provided by local communities and international organisations. There are over 51 million people in dire need of protection and assistance as a consequence of forced displacement. They include refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and asylum-seekers. Globally, over 33 million people are internally displaced, compared to more than 16 million refugees and over 1 million asylum-seekers.

According to the latest UNHCR data, half of the global refugee population is children, the highest proportion in 10 years. Women and girls represent 49% of the entire refugee population. In many societies, they face specific risks and are less likely than men and boys to have access to their rights, due to their gender roles and position in society. In situations of displacement, these risks – particularly discrimination and sexual and gender-based violence – can be exacerbated. Unaccompanied women and girls, women heads of households and pregnant, disabled or older women may face particular challenges.