Population Council Research that makes a difference

Violence Prevention Conference Brings Together
International Leaders

Population Council researcher to present information about Ethiopian program

WASHINGTON, DC (8 April 2009) — Congresswoman Donna F. Edwards (D–MD 4th) and Catherine Pierce, acting director of the US Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), will deliver keynote addresses at the first-ever National Conference on the Primary Prevention of Men’s Violence Against Women on 14 and 15 April in Washington, DC.

Co-founder of the National Network to End Domestic Violence, Rep. Edwards will address more than 200 domestic violence, sexual assault, and men’s anti-violence organizations committed to advancing policies and programs that support the prevention of men’s violence against women.
Population Council researcher Awraris Alemayehu will speak about a program in Ethiopia designed to increase men’s awareness of issues related to reproductive health and sexuality. The program is called Addis Birhan. (PDF of related publication)

The conference is hosted by Men Can Stop Rape, Inc. (MCSR), an organization internationally renowned for its gender violence prevention messages and programs for male teens. Titled “Men and Women as Allies,” it is the first national conference to unite men’s and women’s organizations in a field that has traditionally assigned violence prevention efforts to women.

Men Can Stop Rape will facilitate dialogue among men’s, women’s, and government organizations committed to supporting survivors and ending domestic violence and sexual assault, according to Stephen Glaude, president and CEO of MCSR. “At a time when there is renewed focus on domestic issues and talk of ‘change,’ we think that it is critical to bring people together to learn about new resources and policies that support both prevention and survivors.”

Other experts in the field of primary violence prevention will make presentations at the conference. Byron Hurt, award-winning filmmaker (Hip Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes), and Ritu Sharma, co-founder and president of Women Thrive Worldwide, will open the conference in a conversational-style “Men and Women as Allies” dialogue. Top officials from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Office of Women’s Health, the Administration for Children and Families, and the Office on Violence Against Women will update attendees on existing programs, pertinent policy changes, and new initiatives.

The conference will also tackle current controversial topics such as teen dating violence, youth sex trafficking, and sexual assault in the military. Officials from the Department of Defense’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office will discuss the recently launched social marketing campaign it created with Men Can Stop Rape.

“Our goal for this conference is that people will forge strategic alliances that will further public awareness, policy, research, and government investment in primary violence prevention programs,” says Glaude. “It’s important that the people doing these bodies of work dialogue with one another and see themselves as part of the same effort,” he adds.

Read more about the Population Council’s work on gender-based violence and about the Council's work in Ethiopia.

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About the National Conference on the Primary Prevention of Men’s Violence Against Women
T he National Conference on the Primary Prevention of Men’s Violence Against Women, hosted by Men Can Stop Rape, Inc. and co-sponsored by 55 organizations, will be held 14–15 April at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. More information about the conference can be found at http://mencanstoprape.org/conference or http://www.mencanstoprape.org.

About the Population Council
The Population Council confronts critical health and development issues—from stopping the spread of HIV to improving reproductive health and ensuring that young people lead full and productive lives. Through biomedical, social science, and public health research in 50 countries, we work with our partners to deliver solutions that lead to more effective policies, programs, and technologies that improve lives around the world. Established in 1952 and headquartered in New York, the Council is a nongovernmental, nonprofit organization governed by an international board of trustees.

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Media contacts

Population Council
Diane Rubino: drubino@popcouncil.org; +1 212 339 0617

Men Can Stop Rape
Nicole Player: nplayer@mencanstoprape.org; +1 202 265 6530, ext. 10 (office); +1 202 277 5361 (cell)