NGO Response

Domestic Violence

Human Trafficking

Sexual Harassment

Sexual Assault

Other Forms of Violence Against Women

Home

Our Work

What's New

Advocacy Tools

International Law

Expert's Corner

Make A Donation

Anti-Gender Developments

Home > Other Forms of Violence Against Women > Femicide > NGO Response

NGO Response to Femicide

last updated September 5, 2008

Women’s NGOs in Mexico and Latin America have been among the most active advocates against the crime of femicide, using the term to attract more attention to the brutal killings of women and girls occurring in their countries. Some of the organizations in the region working on the issue of femicide include CEFEMINA in Costa Rica, the Mexican Commission for the Protection and Defense of Human Rights, the Center for Legal Action on Human Rights/Network to Oppose Violence against Women (Guatemala), and the Women’s Studies Center – Honduras (CEM-H). The range of activities these organizations engage in a range of activities including: direct service to women affected by violence, public education, advocacy and lobbying for legal reform, and human rights advocacy on behalf of individuals.

In Turkey, civil society organizations have been actively advocating against violence against women in recent years. KA-MER, an organization based in Diyarbakir with branches throughout the country, is working on preventing honor killings. The Special Rapporteur also cites media reports of a campaign in September 2005 aimed against the suicides of young women. Young women took to the streets declaring that they “do not want to be victims of traditional values,” according to the Special Rapporteur.

The Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA) is a well-known women’s organizations in the country. The organization provides support to female victims of war and other atrocities and advocates against the brutal murders of women in Afghanistan.

In the United States, some NGOs publish femicide reports to call attention to the issue. For example, in Minnesota, the Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women, has published nineteen reports on femicides in Minnesota beginning in the year 1989. NGOs may also be involved in “shadow reporting” to the major international and regional human rights treaty bodies, which is another way to call attention to human rights issues by supplementing a government’s report to a treaty body.

The Advocates for Human Rights Site Map About the Site

330 Second Avenue South, Suite 800, Minneapolis, MN 55401 USA Phone: (612) 341-3302 Fax: (612) 341-2971 Email: hrights@advrights.org

Although Stop Violence Against Women endeavors to provide useful and accurate information, Stop Violence Against Women does not warrant the accuracy of the materials provided. Accordingly, this Web Site and its information are provided "AS IS" without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular use or purpose, or non-infringement. Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of implied warranties, so the above exclusion may not apply to you. We reserve the right to make improvements and/or changes in the format and/or content of the information contained on the Web Site without notice.This information is provided with the understanding that Stop Violence Against Women and its partners are not engaged in rendering legal or other professional services. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought.