VViolenceiolence AgainstAgainst WWomenomen for the protection and promotion of the human rights of women 10 REPORTS / YEAR 2002 Carin Benninger-Budel Joanna Bourke-Martignoni Created in 1986, the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) is an international coalition of over 260 NGOs in 85 countries, the SOS-Torture network, fighting against torture, summary executions, forced disappearances, and all other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. Since 1996, OMCT has had a specific pro- gramme for the protection of women from gender-based violence around the world. This programme draws its strength and approach from other OMCT programmes which have proved consistently effective in the fight against torture. Particular emphasis is placed on drawing attention to and preventing serious human rights violations perpetrated against women through alternative reports on country sit- uations to the United Nations treaty monitoring bodies and urgent appeals on violence against women. Violence against Women: 10 Reports/Year 2002 for the protection and promotion of the human rights of women Authors: Carin Benninger-Budel, Programme Manager Joanna Bourke-Martignoni, Programme Officer Director of Publication: Eric Sottas, Director First Printing: 2003 © 2003 World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) ISBN 2-88477-045-3 Cover design: Thie Reklame, 7944 GV Meppel, The Netherlands www.thie.nl Printed by Abrax, 21300 Chenôve, France World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) P.O. Box 21 8, rue du Vieux-Billard 1211 Geneva 8 Switzerland Tel: 0041 (0)22 809 49 39 Fax: 0041 (0)22 809 49 29 E-mail:
[email protected] http://www.omct.org VViolenceiolence AgainstAgainst WWomenomen for the protection and promotion of the human rights of women 10 REPORTS / YEAR 2002 Carin Benninger-Budel Joanna Bourke-Martignoni Violence Against Women: 10 Reports / Year 2002 Acknowledgements OMCT would like to thank consultant Yannick Inyeza Koffigan Bigah of ACAT-Togo for his work on the report on Togo.