Hi everyone  ... as part of the 16 Days campaign Radhika Balakrishnan Executive Director of the Center for Women's Global Leadership  answers selected questions from our Stardoll members


1. From missfashion_677: Do you put people using violence against women on trial? Or what do you do, sue those who you find guilty?

Answer: It depends on the type and severity of the violence that takes place. Turkey, like many countries, has laws to addresses violence against women. The Family Protection Law allows Family Court Judges to decide how to handle a person convicted of committing violence against family members, including sending the person away from their house and/or ordering the perpetrator to seek medical or psychological assistance. Counseling is another way that a situation might be handled. For very serious crimes, a person may be put in prison.

2.stiffl - "How can we help these women to build their self-confidence, so that they would have the courage to protect themselves?"

Answer: If you know someone who has experienced violence in a relationship, the most important thing you can do is listen to her and let her know she is not alone. Tell her that no one deserves to be threatened or harmed. If she asks for assistance, help her contact the police or an organization that works with abused women and/or children.

Violence and abuse are about power and control, so in order to stop violence, women need to know about their rights and rely on a community of supportive friends and family to help them get out of the situation. As you pointed out, someone who has experienced violence needs to find the courage to take the first steps to protect herself. Some other things that can help women take control of their lives are: learning how to use the Internet and other information technology safely, becoming financially independent, knowing about legal rights and other resources, and having people who love and support them.

3. malustardoll200 "If the victim is afraid of her husband and don’t report his abuse, is it correct if the neighbors report it?"

Answer: If you hear or witness an instance of abuse taking place, you should call the police or a women’s help hotline. You can search for hotline numbers on www.HotPeachPages.net. If you feel comfortable and safe enough, you can also try to speak up or interrupt the violence. You can learn more about interrupting violence from a campaign in India called “Bell Bajao” – which means “Ring the Bell.” But always be careful about your own safety!

If you think that abuse is taking place and want to help, try to talk to the person experiencing violence to see what she wants to do. You can provide information about women’s organizations or domestic violence shelters near you. However, the person experiencing violence needs to take ownership of the situation and decide for herself if she wants to leave or take legal action.

4. aardvarke" is it happening mainly in the poorer communities?"

Answer: No, unfortunately violence against women is a problem that impacts people of all classes, races, religions and ethnicities. Poverty is something that can add stress to relationships, but the issue is more about control of and access to resources. If a woman does not have financial independence or resources, it may be more difficult for her to leave an abusive situation. Sadly there is no region of the world, no country, and no culture that is free of violence against women.

5. newstarmaryn "What can we take under our control in order to end violence against women?"

Answer: You can start by researching the issues, learning more about your rights, and educating others. Use the internet to search for additional information about protective laws and services in your country and share the information with your friends. You should also make sure that you are using information and communication technologies safely. To learn how more about security and privacy settings for the Internet and messaging services you use, visit www.TakeBackTheTech.net.

You can also use social networking sites to spread awareness about the issues. There are websites – like the Young Feminist Wire (http://yfa.awid.org/) - where you can communicate with other young people working on women’s rights and gender equality around the world to connect and share information. Finally, you can take action locally in your community. Plan an event, create your own movie, collect resources for a local shelter, volunteer with a women’s rights organization, or start an awareness campaign at your school! To search for more ideas, check out www.DoSomething.org or the 16 Days Campaign Take Action Kit Guide.