Lancet, January 6, 2007
Your powerful Editorial (Oct 21, p 1393) (¹⁾ and the reports on which it comments are groundbreaking. We note with dismay, however, that most of the reports' recommendations focus on succour and justice for women and children after the fact. Even more stunning is their silence on the need for men to change their behaviour as well as the need to change the social norms that support extreme mistreatment of girls and women.

Violence Against Women and Children

Letter to the Editor

Your powerful Editorial (Oct 21, p 1393) ⁽¹⁾ and the reports on which it comments are groundbreaking. We note with dismay, however, that most of the reports' recommendations focus on succour and justice for women and children after the fact. Even more stunning is their silence on the need for men to change their behaviour as well as the need to change the social norms that support extreme mistreatment of girls and women.

Preventing such violence requires teaching children and young people that violence is wrong, and that girls and women are people with full human rights, not objects. It requires bold, daily leadership from everyone, especially parents, politicians, and social icons, as well as the new UN Secretary-General. Effective programmes exist in countries as diverse as Nigeria, Pakistan, and Peru, and hundreds more could flourish with serious investment.

ADRIENNE GERMAIN
President, International Women's Health Coalition
New York, NY

References
1. The Lancet. Tackling violence against women and children. Lancet 2006; 368: 1393.

Originally published in The Lancet, January 6, 2007. Reprinted with permission. For more information visit www.thelancet.com.

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