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As tens of thousands took to the streets across India to express outrage over the brutal gang rape and subsequent death of a 23-year-old student in Delhi, smaller protests were held in Ohio to condemn the sexual assault of a 16-year-old girl, allegedly by members of small town\u2019s beloved high school football players.<\/p>\n
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Millions of women are not safe in their homes, on the streets, or the workplace. In India, a woman is raped every 20 minutes and only 25 percent of rape perpetrators in documented cases are arrested or face conviction. In the United States, a woman is sexually assaulted every 2 minutes and only 24 percent of rapes reported to police result in arrests, and even fewer in convictions.<\/p>\n
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SIGN NOW\u00a0<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Although India, Ohio, and conflicts around the world are very different, they share far too many similarities. Gender-based violence arises from a deep-rooted misogyny that kills women physically and psychologically. In conflict, women\u2019s bodies are savaged by rape and used as a weapon of war. And all too often, rape is trivialized, the survivors blamed, and justice denied.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Systemic change is needed now. Just putting more police on the streets or reforming legal systems will not change the status quo. We must also change long-held beliefs that sanction abuse, harassment, and violence against women.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Global Fund for Women along with grantees in India, the International Campaign to Stop Rape and Gender Violence in Conflict, and sister organizations in the United States* demand the United Nations, under Ban Ki-moon\u2019s leadership, pressures world leaders to make ending sexual violence a top priority.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Please join us to take action now. Sign the petition below and the Global Fund for Women , with our partners, will deliver your signatures to the United Nations Secretary General this March when the UN Commission on the Status of Women meets to discuss ending violence against women.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n * Amnesty International, Association for Women’s Rights in Development, Center for Women’s Global Leadership, Centre for Women’s Studies Zagreb, Croatia, Centre for Women War Victims, Croatia, International Campaign to Stop Rape and Gender Violence in Conflict, Narika, Nobel Women\u2019s Initiative, Physicians for Human Rights, Vimochana, Women’s Court – Feminist Approach to Justice, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom , Women’s Network Croatia,World Pulse.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n SIGN THE PETITION<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Dear United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The culture of rape and sexual assault around the world needs to stop.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Rape and other forms of sexual violence do not just concern women. These are societal issues that impede the progress of every nation and should concern every citizen.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n With the focus of CSW 2013 on the elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls, we demand that all Heads of State make ending sexual violence against women a top priority. They must devote resources to comprehensive solutions, end impunity in cases of sexual violence, ensure that laws are fully enforced, and hold politicians to the highest levels of accountability. Heads of State must also make a commitment to protect women human rights defenders who are promoting women\u2019s right to a life free from violence and who are themselves targets of violence because they are women defending women\u2019s rights. Please use your office to require that, by the end of 2013, governments work with women\u2019s movements and submit mechanisms and strategies to eliminate sexual violence in their countries.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The violent crime of rape cannot be trivialized and tolerated any longer. The time to end violence against women is NOW.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n In peace,<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n SIGN NOW\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Source:<\/p>\n