Violence, and women's fear of it, limits women's choices in virtually all spheres of life. It has long-term, as well as short-term consequences on women's physical and emotional well-being. It detrimentally affects women's ability to gain an education, earn a livelihood, develop human relationships and participate in public activities, including development programmes. In this book addressing violence against women, development workers go to the heart of how members of communities relate to one another and how they are able to shape their own lives. The first section of the book examines the many different definitions of violence against woman and offers theories about why it happens in all societies across the world. It discusses the current momentum around the issue and asks why development organizations have been slow to take up the struggle to end violence against woman. The second section focuses on strategies to counter violence against women and support the survivors. Case studies come from times of peace and times of armed conflict. Sections suggest strategies for transforming attitudes and beliefs in different societies that condone such violence; for supporting individual survivors; and to ensure that governments and NGOs fulfil their duty to protect women.

pt. 1. Exploring violence against women --
pt. 2. Strategies for challenging violence against women --
Appendix 1. The three phases of Rape Trauma Syndrome --
Appendix 2. The KwaZulu Natal Programme for the Survivors of Violence framework for understanding the effects of political violence and responding to it.

Francine Pickup
Francine Pickup worked for several years as a researcher in Oxfam's Policy Department . She has also worked for Amnesty International.

Suzanne Williams
Suzanne Williams is an independent Social Development Consultant with Goukamma Consulting, having worked for Oxfam GB from 1977 to 2004. She was one of Oxfam's pioneers of work on gender equality and violence against women, and authored and co-authored several key publications and articles for Oxfam GB on these issues.

Caroline Sweetman
Caroline Sweetman is Editor of the international journal Gender & Development and works for Oxfam GB.