This year we participated for the first time at the Third World Conference of Women's Shelters that took place on 3-6 November 2015. It was organized by the Foundation of Women's Shelters in the Netherlands at the request of the Global Network of Women's Shelters (GNWS), and gathered around 1000 participants from about 115 countries. Main themes were: economic independence of violence survivors, sustainable financing for the programs, innovative approaches to eliminate violence against women and to support survivors, what is happening accross the world and strengthening the global network. One in three women in the world has experienced physical and/or sexual violence at least once in their lives, usually by an intimate partner. Violence has an enormous impact on the survivors, their families and communities, resulting in huge social and economic costs for individuals, families, businesses, communities and associations. Over the last decades many countries have made considerable progress in introducing legislation, however, the implementation and monitoring are weak or slow.

Link: http://www.worldshelterconference.org/en/

This year we participated for the first time at the Third World Conference of Women's Shelters that took place on 3-6 November 2015. It was organized by the Foundation of Women's Shelters in the Netherlands at the request of the Global Network of Women's Shelters (GNWS), and gathered around 1000 participants from about 115 countries. Main themes were: economic independence of violence survivors, sustainable financing for the programs, innovative approaches to eliminate violence against women and to support survivors, what is happening accross the world and strengthening the global network. One in three women in the world has experienced physical and/or sexual violence at least once in their lives, usually by an intimate partner. Violence has an enormous impact on the survivors, their families and communities, resulting in huge social and economic costs for individuals, families, businesses, communities and associations. Over the last decades many countries have made considerable progress in introducing legislation, however, the implementation and monitoring are weak or slow.
Former UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, Rashida Manjoo has stated, “violence is endemic and the lack of accountability for violations experienced by women is the rule rather than the exception (2013).” Achieving 'gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls "is one of the objectives of Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development, signed by 193 UN Member States in the framework of the annual General Assembly in September 2015. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced the elimination of violence against women as a top priority of the UN's work.
The conference participants concluded the meeting with the Call to governments, UN agencies, international organizations, private sector and civil society to take urgent and effective measures for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and children.

Link: http://www.worldshelterconference.org/en/