Fiona O'Malley (Dún Laoghaire, Progressive Democrats)

Tomorrow marks the beginning of 16 days of activism to eliminate all forms of violence against women. While to some this may seem a lofty ideal, if we do not aspire to this noble goal how can we even begin to achieve it? It begs the question how much violence is tolerable. I support wholeheartedly this campaign and I am glad to have the opportunity to raise it on the Adjournment.

To coincide with these 16 days a consortium of Irish human rights, humanitarian and development agencies along with Development Co-operation Ireland have produced a report on gender-based violence entitled, A Failure to Protect; a Challenge to Action. The report is recognition that gender-based violence is rooted in gender inequality and unequal power relationships. It is usually, though not exclusively, perpetrated against women and girls and is particularly prevalent in areas of armed conflict. War has exacted a particularly high price on women. Rape is a common and devastating weapon of war. As the subject of gender-based violence is shrouded in silence, impunity and complacency, the horrific violence has been permitted to flourish.

Shockingly the report reveals that gender-based violence and sexual exploitation are also found in humanitarian situations, where sex is traded for food rations, for safe passage and abuse is also perpetuated by people in positions of power in the community such as teachers. In Mozambique last year I spoke to parents who refused to let their daughter attend school because of the price in sexual favours the teacher was exacting from the child to achieve grades.

The report acknowledges the onus and responsibility on humanitarian agencies and governments to provide for the protection of all citizens in conflict and post-conflict situations. It also recognises that failure to act on gender-based violence compromises women's and girls' ability to benefit from development programmes and is a hindrance to the achievement of the millennium development goals.

The cost of not engaging with gender-based violence is significant. Human rights are abused, atrocities and individual trauma and suffering continue and development interventions are undermined. The statistics are truly gruesome. Some 75% of women in Liberia were raped during the conflict. In Bosnia, between 20,000 and 50,000 women were raped during five months of conflict in 1992. In Thailand, 14% of gross domestic product comes from prostitution and sex trafficking. In Germany in 2002, some 811 women, mainly from eastern Europe, were freed from white slavery rings. Silent voices permit these injustices to continue.

The report describes itself as a call to action. It demands those of us with a strong voice to use it to highlight, to provoke and to insist upon change. I salute this initiative and particularly the leadership of the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Conor Lenihan, on this issue. It is but a beginning, but a very important first step. How we use the information contained in the report will measure our solidarity with the most vulnerable groups in the most atrocious conditions. I trust we will not be found wanting.

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