Today, the Working Group on Girls, a coalition of over 80 national and international NGOs with representation at the United Nations, held the first Girl’s Tribunal on Violence. The Tribunal involved girl activists from around the world who testified about their personal experiences witnessing violence in their communities, schools and in the media.
Their stories brought some needed reality to the sometimes theoretical and abstract discussions taking place at CSW57. They spoke about the violence in the context of everyday people and their efforts to bring about change.
This group of courageous girls testified to a distinguished panel of jurists, VIPs in the fight against violence against women and girls, who responded to their presentations with recommendations for the girls, audience members, and policymakers on how to address their issues. The effect of these real-life situations had a powerful and inspiring effect on everyone present.
Some interesting facts from today’s CSW:
- 33% of girls in the UK report they have experienced some form of sexual abuse.
- 97% of 12-14 year old boys in Denmark have seen some form of pornography.
- An Ordinance in Pakistan, the Hudood Ordinance, requires a women to produce 4 male witnesses before she can accuse someone of rape.
By Erica Higbie, FAWCO Representative to the United Nations