Simple, accessible, and cheap, rape is an extremely effective form of combat, used systematically to terrorize and humiliate. Rape is unmatched for its range of impact and scope of damage. It destroys entire communities. Sexual violence is not just a by-product of war. It's a military strategy, a tactic of genocide.The bodies of women and girls are battlegrounds in conflicts throughout the world.

WHAT IS UN Action?

UN Action Against Sexual Violence in Conflict (UN Action) unites the work of 13 UN entities with the goal of ending sexual violence in conflict. It is a concerted effort by the UN system to improve coordination and accountability, amplify programming and advocacy, and support national efforts to prevent sexual violence and respond effectively to the needs of survivors.

UN Action HAS THREE MAIN PILLARS:

UN Action, under the leadership of UNICEF and with co-sponsor V-Day, launched the Stop Raping our Greatest Resource: Power to Women and Girls of the DRC campaign on 24 November 2007 in Bukavu, DRC.

The event launch was organized in collaboration with V-Day, the Ministry for Women's and Family Affairs (CONDIFFA), the UN Mission for Congo (MONUC) and several other United Nations Agencies.

On the occasion of November 29th, Women Human Rights Defenders day, and as a part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Campaign, the Center for Women's Global Leadership honors the hundreds of thousands of women activists around the world who persistently and courageously defend human rights, peace and social justice.

In late October 2007, women peacemakers from around the world met for a summit entitled “Is Peace Possible?” that was convened by the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice (IPJ) at the University of San Diego in San Diego, California.

Due to the wildfires in the area it was necessary to relocate and it was not possible to hold a public event, however meetings continued despite the disruptions.

We seek articles for a special issue of the International Feminist Journal of Politics that critically examines UNSCR 1325 on women, peace and security, its implementation and its relevancy to women's activism, the protection of women in conflict, conflict resolution and peace building and/or the governance of international peace and security in different parts of the world.

Human Rights Day, December 10, marks the end of the 2007 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Campaign and the beginning of the year leading up to the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR 60).

Since its inception in 1915, the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) has worked for all human rights to be respected. We have equally worked for the prevention of war and the eradication of militarism, believing that these conditions negate human rights. We are convinced that human rights cannot exist without peace and freedom.

Full Statement

“ We women, in International Congress assembled, protest against the madness and the horror of war, involving as it does a reckless sacrifice of human life and the destruction of so much that humanity has laboured through centuries to build up.”

In December 2008 the Universal Declaration of Human Rights will be 60 years old. To celebrate its anniversary The Elders (Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Mary Robinson, Ela R.