Top UN Expert on Violence Against Women on Fact Finding Mission to U.S.

Press Type: Press Release   Associated Program: Domestic Violence

Released: 01/2011

Top UN Expert on Violence Against Women on Fact Finding Mission to U.S.

WASHINGTON, D.C.- The United Nations' top expert on violence against women today begins a two week fact-finding mission to the United States. Rashida Manjoo, the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, will start in Washington, D.C., where she will hold official meetings with U.S. government officials, non-government organizations, and women directly affected by violence.

Ms. Manjoo's visit comes in response to the rise in violence against women during the U.S. recession and foreclosure crisis. In a 2010 study conducted by Mary Kay of 731 domestic violence shelters nationwide, 3 out of 4 shelters indicated an increase in demand for their services since fall 2008. Seventy five percent of those shelters attribute the increase to financial issues. Many shelters also reported that the violence is more severe than before the recession.

This official mission will lead to Ms. Manjoo's submission of an official report on the state of violence against women in the United States to the UN Human Rights Council. Advocates hope Ms. Manjoo's recommendations will call for greater efforts by the federal government to enforce the protections enacted by the Violence Against Women's Act, and to further strengthen and expand them when the Act is up for reauthorization in Congress later this year. The law contains specific provisions aimed at preventing homelessness for survivors of domestic violence.

Maria Foscarinis, executive director of the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty, one of the rapporteur's D.C. hosts, said, "We hope Ms. Manjoo's visit will shine a light on the devastating impacts of domestic violence, which often also include homelessness. All too often survivors are hurt not only by the violence itself, but by the further harm of losing their homes and becoming homeless."

Domestic violence is a leading cause of homelessness among women, often also affecting their children; among families it is the second most common reason cited for their homelessness, just after affordable housing. The National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty has organized a community forum to help local service providers and women affected by domestic violence, housing, and homelessness share their experiences with the rapporteur.

Foscarinis also said, "This is an opportunity for the Obama administration to take a clear stand that violence against women is unacceptable, to take action to deter it, and to ensure that the rights of survivors -including their housing rights- are protected and enforced."

The mission will also take Ms. Manjoo to Cherokee, N.C., where she will meet with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; and to Miami, Fla.; San Francisco, Calif., Minneapolis, Minn., and New York.

Ms. Manjoo, appointed as special rapporteur in 2009, is an advocate of the High Court of South Africa and a research associate in the law faculty at the University of Cape Town.

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