G8 urged to act on violence against women

ROME, Sept. 10 (UPI) -- Delegates to a Group of Eight conference in Rome on violence against women were urged to spark worldwide outrage against a crime against humanity.

The Rome meeting addressed many aspects of violence against women, including rape, sexual abuse, domestic violence, workplace intimidation and abuse during armed conflict, the Italian news agency ANSA reported Thursday.

"We want the whole world to speak out, be outraged and act" said keynote speaker Mara Carfagna, Italian equal opportunities minister. This sort of crime, she said, sometimes was condoned for tribal or religious reasons for accepted as human nature.

Calling for new laws, mass movements and action to raise public awareness, Carfagna said, ''We must free our sisters from fear." The minister described reported victimization of some 140,000 women each year as a crime against humanity.

Delegates also heard from Italian President Giorgio Napolitano and Foreign Minister Franco Frattini.

The conference will produce a final document to be submitted to a G8 foreign ministers conference in New York Sept 18.