http://www.saynotoviolence.org/

[Macbeth]

Hey everyone, the following link leads to a website that wants to do more to stop violence against women. It is an initiative of UNIFEM Goodwill Ambassador Nicole Kidman. You can add your name to the petition. I certainly have.

www.saynotoviolence.org/

Pass on the message!

[Galadriel]

Voted and my mother voted as well

[Elliot Kane]

What exactly is this petition hoping to do? Obviously I am very much against violence to women (AND to men, for that matter!) but I don't see any declared aim or supporting statement for this thing.

Is it aimed at domestic violence? Street crime? 'Honour killing'?

Who will the petition be sent TO, and what results are they hoping FOR?

Sorry, Macbeth, but this would look pretty dubious, to me, even if I'd ever heard of UNIFEM, which I haven't...

[Macbeth]

May 1, 2008 12:32:38 GMT Galadriel said:

Voted and my mother voted as well

Thank you!

[Macbeth]

Elliot, if you browse the website a bit, you'll find more info. And even if you think it's dubious, why not sign for such a worthy cause?

[Elliot Kane]

Because the cause isn't even stated, MacBeth.

'Violence against women' could include everything from banning women from front line service in the army to opposing male-on-female domestic violence to banning women from wrestling or boxing or even learning how to defend themselves. Is it opposing female-on-female violence, male-on-female violence, or both? Will it be used to oppose women taking part in violent sports, even if they want to? It could be. It could mean anything.

Where's the line?

What will they DO with this petition when it's done?

What are they hoping it will accomplish?

None of these questions are even addressed by the petition, let alone answered.

I would expect any genuinely international organisation to put forward a petition that had actual sense and meaning, not a hopelessly incompetent mess like this.

It looks more like a means of gathering e-mail addresses for spamming purposes than a genuine petition, to me.

[Galadriel]

Signing this petition doesn't requires anything else then a few seconds of your time Elliot. The petition does have a clear message if you saw the video. It's violence in every possible way towards women: Mentally violence, sexual violence, war violence, rape, female mutilation and so on.
Nicole Kidman isn't the kind of person to be an ambassador for a cause that leads to nothing. I think it's a great thing to be the face of. And no one asks for money, so what's the big deal if you sign this?

@ Macbeth
My pleasure, always there to help out

[Elliot Kane]

The big deal is the lack of clearly stated aims & goals on the petition, Gal.

I'm absolutely against violence, but I'm also against restricting women's freedom to do martial arts and other dangerous sports if they want to. Women should have choices, and this could be used to restrict or remove those choices.

When I sign any petition, it has to have clearly stated goals that reflect my views. This has no stated goals at all, so I cannot support it.

[Galadriel]

No one is forcing you Elliot, it's your choice.

[Elliot Kane]

It absolutely is

[LaFille]

WHAT: Say NO to Violence against Women is a global Internet-based advocacy effort on ending violence against women. Organized by UNIFEM, the initiative is designed to demonstrate that there is an ever-growing movement of people who raise their voices and demand that ending violence against women be a top priority. Participants add their names to an internet “virtual” book as an expression of public support and call for action.

WHO: UNIFEM Goodwill Ambassador Nicole Kidman is the campaign’s spokesperson.
“I am committed to amplify the voices of the women and girls who have been subjected to violence and abuse. That’s why I was the first to sign up my name for this important campaign. Please add your name to mine and say ‘no’ to violence against women. Let survivors of violence know that they are not alone, that they can count on us.”
—UNIFEM Goodwill Ambassador Nicole Kidman
The initiative is supported by a wide range of United Nations organizations, along with Prof. Dr. Yakin Ertürk, UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women. Civil society organizations and the private sector have also joined as partners.
“Those of us who have worked on ending violence against women know that one of the greatest barriers to overcome is the silence that surrounds the issue. This is why I welcome this campaign. We must create a culture of zero tolerance for one of the most pervasive — yet least punished — human rights violations in the world.”
—Prof. Dr. Yakin Ertürk, UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women
WHY: One in 3 women and girls may be beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused in their lifetime. Since funds are essential to change laws and policies, increase access to justice for survivors, address the links between violence against women and HIV/AIDS, and provide services, Ms. Kidman also calls for increased resources for the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women, which gives grants to innovative efforts in the developing world that are helping end violence against women.
This is a historic moment. Ending violence against women is seen as essential to reaching development targets, such as the Millennium Development Goals, and also to security and peace.
“We need to break through the wall of silence that surrounds violence against women. And we must turn legal norms into reality in women’s lives.”
—United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
WHEN: Launched on 26 November 2007 to align with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and the ensuing global 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence campaign, www.saynotoviolence.org will continue until 25 November 2008.

Click for source document (pdf).

I didn't dig the organization's claims/affiliations/support and only checked quickly their sections about violence against women, but the information seems to be there, if not on the first page. Non-profit organizations often seem to have a poor web design/management.

[Glance A'Lot]

It seems to be a legitimate organization - UNIFEM article - sponsors mentioned not without interest.

While the cause in itself is worthy, the argumentation is - polemic and placative.

One in 3 women may suffer from abuse and violence in her lifetime.
This is an appalling human rights violation.

This is misleading and from my point of view even untrue, as:

Every single human being, male or female, and a lot of animals too, since we are at it, MAY suffer from abuse and violence (from Mankind!) in their lifetimes.

And yes. I'm against it (meaning violence against sentient and sensitive beings)

[The Sonar Chicken]

Hmmm... I rarely bother with electronic petitions 'cos they rarely make any sort of statement or have any kinda impact. To be honest, there're like over 3 million petitions on the net and rarely have I heard about a politician or a top organisation figure paying any attention to them.

I see quite a few documents and studies on the Unifem site but... where're the workshops and other materials for establishing a safe environment in the family? I'm sorry to say this but the objective of the site seems fairly murky. They need to re-organise it.

[Dark Phoenix Rising]

I agree with EK, Glance, and Lucifiel. Saying no to violence against women is just too broad a subject for me to sign up to. After all, I'm all in favour of women getting involved in football, rugby, the armed forces, private bedroom stuff that they enjoy, martial arts, and such like... But I'm so not in favour of anyone being assulted, abused, or randomly being beaten up without consent.