International Violence Against Women:U.S. Response and Policy Issues
"In recent years, the international community has increasingly recognized
international violence against women (VAW) as a significant human rights and
global health issue. VAW, which can include both random acts of violence as well
as sustained abuse over time, can be physical, psychological, or sexual in nature.
Studies have found that VAW occurs in all geographic regions, countries, cultures,
and economic classes, with some surveys showing that women in developing
countries experience higher rates of violence than those in developed countries.
Many experts view VAW as a symptom of the historically unequal power
relationship between men and women, and argue that over time this imbalance has
led to pervasive cultural stereotypes and attitudes that perpetuate a cycle of violence."