Violence against women and girls persists: experts available
TORONTO, November 22, 2018 – International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is a time to examine the reasons why violence against women and girls (VAWG) continues to rise around the world.
The United Nations’ designated day, observed on November 25, puts a spotlight on this human rights violation of physical, sexual or psychological harm to women and girls. The following York University experts are available for interviews on gender-based violence around the world and how it continues to be a barrier to the fulfilment of human rights for women and girls.
Annie Bunting, associate professor in the Department of Social Science, teaches in the areas of social justice and human rights. Bunting is currently directing the CSiW Partnership, an international research collaboration on forced marriage in war. She is working with historians of slavery and women’s human rights activist scholars and partners in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Uganda, Canada and England.
She can comment on:
- Child marriage and forced marriage
- Sexual and gender-based violence in conflict situations
- International women's rights
- International criminal law
Ruth Koleszar-Green, assistant professor in the School of Social Work and special advisor to the president on Indigenous initiatives at York University, volunteers on several organizations serving the Indigenous communities across Ontario. Before entering academia, she was a social worker supporting Indigenous women and children impacted by family violence.
She can comment on:
- Family violence confronting urban Indigenous women
- Historical and current acts of oppression experienced by Indigenous women
- Services available for Indigenous women
Heidi Matthews, assistant professor at Osgoode Hall Law School and co-director of the Nathanson Centre on Transnational Human Rights, Crime and Security, is an international legal expert on wartime rape and sexual violence, including the prosecution of rape as an international crime. Her current book project critically examines contemporary policy reform proposals to sexual assault law in the wake of the #MeToo movement. Professor Matthews has been published recently on the evolving perceptions of consent and #MeToo as a political strategy.
She can comment on:
- #MeToo and sexual assault law reform
- Rape and sexual violence in war
- Evolving conceptions of sexual consent
Gertrude Mianda est professeur agrégé d’ études des femmes et de genre au campus de Glendon à l'Université York. Elle est également directrice de The Tubman Institute pour la recherche sur l'Afrique et sa diaspora de L'université York. Elle mène ses recherches sur l'immigration et son impact sur l'intégration socio-économique et politique des femmes immigrées d'origine africaine. Ses recherches portent également sur les violences sexuelles envers les femmes et les enfants nés du viol en République démocratique du Congo (RDC).
 Elle peut commenter sur les sujets suivants:
- La violence et difficultés les immigrantes francophones africaines vivant au Canada
- Réalité actuelle de la violence à l'égard des femmes immigrantes d'origine africaiine au Canada
- La violence envers les femmes et enfants en Afrique
York University champions new ways of thinking that drive teaching and research excellence. Through cross-disciplinary programming, innovative course design, diverse experiential learning and a supportive community environment, our students receive the education they need to create big ideas that make an impact on the world. Located in Toronto, York is the third largest university in Canada, with a strong community of 53,000 students, 7,000 faculty and administrative staff, and more than 300,000 alumni. York U's fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education.
Media Contact:
Vanessa Thompson, York University Media Relations, 416-736-2100 ext. 22097, vthomps@yorku.ca
French Media Contact:
Yanni Dagonas, relation avec les médias, université York, 647-468-7850, yannidag@yorku.ca
