Global Sexualized Violence: From Epidemiology to Action

Date:	January 25, 2013 from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm EST
Location:	Columbia University Medical Center Bard Hall 50 Haven Avenue
Contact:	For further information regarding this event, please contact Gerald Govia by sending email to gg2431@mail.cumc.columbia.edu or by calling 2123424542.

This symposium is one in a series of Columbia University Epidemiology Scientific Symposia (CUESS), which are dedicated to exploring cutting-edge scientific topics in epidemiology and population health. The series brings together leaders in the field and aims to explore state-of-the science and to push the research agenda forward.

The goal of this symposium is to bring together the best scientists, journalist, and policy makers to tackle the problem of how to end sexualized violence. Epidemiologists document the scope and burden of sexualized violence and publish about it in academic journals. The media reports on the ‘problem.’ Lawyers and policy makers try to address the issue through legislation. However, it is rare that these three groups actually have the opportunity to listen and talk with each other.

This symposium aims to capitalize on the momentum created by the Women’s Media Center’s Women Under Siege Project (http://www.womenundersiegeproject.org/) to move us a step forward in identifying and implementing solutions to this global health crisis. The symposium is divided into four parts covering these varying aspects of global sexualized violence: 1) epidemiology; 2) consequences; 3) media coverage; and 4) law, policy, and action. Each part will feature a brief presentation from several experts in the field who will then together participate in a panel discussion with an engaged and invited audience.