An end to violence against women

25 November is the UN-sponsored International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.This date came from the brutal assassination in 1960, of the three Mirabal sisters, political activists in the Dominican Republic, on orders of Dominican ruler Rafael Trujillo.

A humanitarian specialist at the UN focusing on prevention of violence against women, Maha Muna spoke with us about her work, telling us that women forced to flee conflict zones are particularly vulnerable. “We’re looking at a range of violence, including sexual violence, and also abuse, exploitation,” Muna said

Muna also told us that women in camps for the internally displaced take initiatives to protect themselves, initiatives she says it is her main mission to support. “Some of our programming, for example in some of the IDP camps in Darfur, would include establishing a women’s center, where [women] can have access to livelihoods, skills,” adding, “in these centers, women come together.”

Muna went on to explain that the worldwide economic crisis has cut deeply into the operating budgets of organizations like hers.

Listen to Chris Altieri’s interview with Maha Muna: