Violence is the expression of physical or verbal force against self or other, compelling action against one's will on pain of being hurt. Violence is used as a tool of manipulation and also is an area of concern for law and culture which take attempts to suppress and stop it.

Discrimination is the act of making a distinction or segregation that violates the equal opportunities. Though gender discrimination and sexism refers to beliefs and attitudes in relation to the gender of a person, such beliefs and attitudes are of a social nature and do not, normally, carry any legal consequences. Sex discrimination, on the other hand, may have legal consequences.

The history of violence and discrimination against women is tied to the history of women being viewed as property and a gender role assigned to be subservient to men and also other women.

In the 1870s courts in the United States stopped recognizing the common-law principle that a husband had the right to "physically chastise an errant wife". In the UK the traditional right of a husband to inflict moderate corporal punishment on his wife in order to keep her "within the bounds of duty" was removed in 1891. Some of the countries involved with in this problem are:

Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, U.S., United Kingdom, Mexico, Spain, France China, Korea, Argentina, Germany, Russia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Peru, Cuba, Brazil, Swiss, Colombia, Iran, Iraq , Japan

<>It continues to be a problem because where equality is lacking in law and practice, and where conflict breaks out and security is compromised.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign aims to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls in all parts of the world. UNiTE brings together a host of UN agencies and offices to galvanize action across the UN system to prevent and punish violence against women. Through UNiTE, the UN is joining forces with individuals, civil society and governments to put an end to violence against women in all its forms.

Declaring violence against women “an attack on all of us”, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on the world’s men and women to stand together to end the intolerable violence “that destroys health, perpetuates poverty [and] strikes against equality and empowerment”. Mr. Ban said bluntly: “Violence against women cannot be tolerated in any form, in any context, in any circumstance, by any political leader or by any Government.”

MISSION: Delegates how can this problem be solved without interfering in the sovereignty of a country? It is time for each country to find ways so this can be solved. Remember that every country is different in many ways.

1. Are women discriminated against in your country? How?
2. What laws protect women in your country?
3. What causes the violence against women in your country?
4. What solutions are being promoted in your country right now
5. What actions could you suggest to solve the problem?

References:

• http://www.un.org/womenwatch
• http://www.un.org/News/Press
• http://www.un.org/en/women/endviolence