Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) Executive Summary Geneva, September 2005 Copyright © 2005 by the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces The Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) works with governments and civil society to foster and strengthen the democratic and civilian control of security sector organisations such as police, intelligence agencies, border security services, paramilitary forces, and armed forces. The Centre conducts research to identify the central challenges in democratic governance of the security sector, and to collect those practices best suited to meet these challenges. DCAF provides advisory programmes and practical work assistance to all interested parties, most commonly to parliaments, military authorities, and international organisations. Visit us at www.dcaf.ch Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF): rue de Chantepoulet 11, PO Box 1360, CH-1211 Geneva 1, Switzerland Tel: ++41 22 741 77 00; fax: ++41 22 741 77 05; e-mail:
[email protected]; website: www.dcaf.ch Table of Contents Slaughtering Eve..................................................................1 The roots of violence against women .........................................4 Violence against women is a violation of human rights ....................5 The scope of violence against women in daily life..........................6 Violence against women in armed conflict and in post-conflict situations