Community Response to Domestic Violence Will Be Focus of Webcast

International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women - marked the beginning of the U.N.'s "16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence" campaign, which ends on December 10, Human Rights Day. In October, Secretary Rice urged U.S. ambassadors around the globe to help raise awareness of gender-based violence in their host countries by engaging host-country governments, civil society and media during the 16 Days of Activism.

On December 1, 2008, from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. EST (21:00 to 22:30 GMT), Embassy Suva will host a digital videoconference with NGO activists and others to discuss the prevention of violence against women, the protection of victims and how to increase social services.

The discussion will be led by Ruth Bennett, public affairs officer in the Office of Women's Issues, U.S. Department of State. The speakers are Jan Langbein, senior policy adviser in the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice, and Marylouise Kelley, director of the Family Violence Prevention and Services Program of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The featured speakers will discuss ways to promote collaboration at the local and national levels among private and public partners to combat violence. They will also discuss legal, educational, health and infrastructural reforms, as well as offer firsthand observations of their successes and challenges in the field of domestic violence intervention and prevention services.

No registration is required. To view the discussion, go to www.cpcwebcast.com/state ( http://www.cpcwebcast.com/state ).

Source: U.S. Department of State