The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has released a manual designed to address violence against women, and specifically domestic violence, as a global human rights violation. Despite efforts made over the last two decades to combat this form of violence, justice remains elusive and few countries fulfill their mandates to prevent domestic violence and protect its victims. While European and Eurasian states have made advances to combat violence against women and domestic violence, gaps still exist in supporting women particularly because of a lack of legal reform and support services. The USAID “Toolkit for Integrating Domestic Violence Activities into Programming in Europe and Asia” analyzes violence against women in the region, providing material to integrate domestic violence awareness into a wide range of programs, including health care, governance, economic growth, youth programming, human trafficking, vulnerable groups, post-conflict reconstruction, and global partnerships. Additionally, it explores the connections between domestic violence and human trafficking and analyzes different programming models for addressing the needs of survivors in USAID programs. The toolkit is intended for USAID workers, donor organizations, and local organizations working to combat violence against women in countries where USAID operates.
Compiled from: “Toolkit for Integrating Domestic Violence Activities into Programming in Europe and Asia,” United States Agency for International Development. (July 2009). (PDF, 64 pages).