NFBPWC Gender Based Violence Blog

Gender-Based Violence

Kemi Oyebade — Sat, 01 Aug 2026 17:40:00 GMT

BPW Member Rita Smith Discusses Domestic Violence as Part of a new book and an upcoming Live Event

Rita Smith, BPW Colorado, is one of the world’s leading experts on domestic violence. She has been written about and published in multiple journals. She wrote on the subject as part of a recently-released book: Preventing Domestic Violence and Child Abuse, published by the Civic Research Institute, compiled by Barry Goldstein, JD; Mo Therese Hanna, PhD; and Veronica York.

I have selected some of the elements of her chapter, titled SportsWorld, to share with my BPW sisters. What is presented below is paraphrased or directly quoted from the book.

Her chapter (#8) focuses on domestic violence in the worlds of professional and collegiate sports. She notes that while they have long been celebrated as sources of teamwork and community identity, they have also fostered environments tolerant of gender-based violence. Through cases from O.J. Simpson to Ray Rice, she illustrates how these organizations historically protected athletes at the expense of victims.

She documents the NFL’s evolving response, including education, accountability policies, and partnerships with domestic violence organizations, yet bemoans the fact that so little has actually been done. Rita argues that sports institutions—given their unparalleled visibility and reach—have a moral and practical duty to model respect, challenge abuse, and engage men as allies in the battle against domestic violence of all kinds.

Sport is a powerful community connector, and gives fans a sense of belonging, something to be a part of, to cheer for, and to believe in. Sports create an avenue for character building, opportunities to learn the value of teamwork and how to focus on a goal and work hard for it. It also provides a way for talented athletes to overcome environmental circumstances and economic obstacles to advancement in status and income. It can literally change lives for the better. With that awesome power, sports also must provide a responsible culture. It has often failed us in that regard, and no sport has avoided making errors in response to gender-based violence.

Domestic violence is the most common violent crime NFL players are arrested for (48 to 55 percent). Significantly higher than the 21 percent share of domestic violence among violent crimes in the general population and higher than that of other professional sports leagues.

Even under the league’s ’new and improved’ punishment system, few players accused of violence against women have received the full six-game penalty.

No repeat offenders have been permanently banned.

Myplanapp.org

The Case that Gripped America: O. J. Simpson The most high-profile case of sports-related violence in recent history is the murder of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldan in June of 1994.

The immediate suspect was the NFL great O.J. Simpson, and his trial for those murders became known as the “trial of the century”. As the investigation unfolded, it became clear that Simpson had abused Nicole for many years and had also abused his first wife.

As the trial progressed, Rita was flooded with interview requests, not just from media outlets in the United States, but from around the world from reporters looking for an expert in domestic violence.

The trial provided advocates working in the domestic violence arena with the opportunity to educate the public at levels not seen before and which they could never have achieved alone. The high level of exposure expanded the public’s understanding of what domestic violence is and the impact it has on both victims and the wider community.

It also clearly revealed a disturbing truth: many fans don’t want to believe their heroes are capable of criminal acts or, perhaps worse, simply don’t care because they value the athlete’s talent and skills more than they do the experience of an anonymous victim.

The Simpson trial also exposed the fact that racism and misogyny are deeply embedded in our culture at large and especially in the professional sports community. The division in the country when the verdict was announced attests to this.

The events and media coverage highlighted the work Americans need to do, both as a country and as fans, to create a more equitable system. Great stats on the field do not erase or minimize actions, attitudes, and behavior off the field.

This very public trial compelled Rita to find a way to engage more men in the work of ending gender-based violence. It was clear that women were never going to end the violence without the assistance of good men.

As she became more familiar with the SportsWorld (an American sports anthology television program which aired 1978 to 1992), she also became much more aware of the frequency of allegations identifying sports figures as perpetrators.

Her chapter in the book offers far more detail and context than this short article can. But you can talk to her yourself at BPW/Washington-Virtual’s upcoming event.

Rita’s official bio:

Rita believes advocacy and social change are intricately connected and cannot be accomplished separately.

She began working as a crisis line advocate in a shelter for battered women and their children in Colorado in 1981 and has held numerous positions in Colorado and Florida since then.

Rita was named the executive director of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence in 1992. In that position, she has been interviewed by hundreds of publications and appeared on numerous local and national radio and television shows in the service of spreading the word about the severity of the problem and how it might be addressed.

In addition to the book referenced in the article, Rita co-authored a manual for attorneys working with domestic violence victims in Colorado and an article on child custody and domestic violence for The Judges Journal (an American Bar Association publication).

Sharon Simmons
CO/WA

Gender-Based Violence

Kemi Oyebade — Sat, 01 Aug 2026 17:35:00 GMT

Women’s Equality Efforts Continue in August

I would like to start off this new term with a heartfelt thank you to Sujata Tiwari, the previous Chair of the Gender Based Violence Committee, for her hard work and dedication!

I look forward to working with her and the other committee members to continue providing information and support to everyone who needs it.

In the summertime, when so many people are traveling and so many are still working, there are many stressors that can occur in both situations and other everyday life events. I would like to point out one specific group of people who have more challenges than others when it comes to gender-based violence: women and girls with special needs and disabilities.

I have worked with children and adults with special needs and disabilities since I was 13-years-old, so I am familiar.

As I prepared for this role, I reviewed the UN Women’s Handbook for Coordinating Gender Based Violence in Emergencies which has a lot of important information for all of us to know. For example, page 28 references a report about the number of women and girls with disabilities.

There are many stressors related to living with, caring for, and providing support for people with special needs. Parents, educators, friends, and neighbors are familiar with the accommodations that can and are being made to provide access. However, people who do not have a direct connection with anyone with special needs may not realize the amount of stress their neighbors have.

We all need to learn about the different aspects of the lives of disabled girls and women all over the world who are dealing with inequalities in access to services, access to caregivers, and access to communities.

I encourage everyone reading this article to do the following things:

Click on the link and go to the Handbook.
Take at least five minutes to review the Table of Contents.
Take a moment or two to think about someone you know who may benefit from this information.
Share it with them.

There are many challenges ahead, and I hope all of you will join the NFBPWC and UN efforts to help reduce the amount of gender-based violence worldwide, one day at a time. I am hoping that at least one representative from each of our 10 affiliates will join the current members of the committee to work on these challenges. I look forward to working with all of you.

Please join us for the next meeting of the Gender-Based Violence Committee on August 19th at 7:00pm EDT. Please Register via the Events page of the website.

With hope and courage.

Dr. Joanne Carfioli Naylor
Chair Gender-Based Violence
gbv@nfbpwc.org

Gender-Based Violence

Kemi Oyebade — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 16:40:00 GMT

The Gender-Based Violence Committee continues to make steady progress. A major focus has been the development of the INFORM Guidebook, a practical resource designed to support members in understanding, responding to, and preventing gender-based violence.

Through my ongoing work in supporting individuals facing trauma and the often-unspoken struggles associated with gender-based violence, I remain deeply committed to building stronger systems of support and advocacy. I am currently leading the expansion and strengthening of key chapters, following valuable feedback from committee members, to ensure the guidebook is both useful and accessible.

In addition to resource development, I am preparing to advance the committee’s advocacy efforts. This includes initiating letter-writing campaigns to Congress in support of the reauthorization and strengthening of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), as outlined in the committee’s action plan. This work will be carried out thoughtfully and in coordination with relevant stakeholders.

Gender-Based Violence

The committee remains committed to creating meaningful educational opportunities and strengthening collaboration with other NFBPWC committees.

Greater member engagement is welcomed as we work towards delivering impactful resources and advocacy initiatives. Members interested in contributing or supporting the committee’s work are encouraged to reach out.

Sujata Tiwari
Chair Gender-Based Violence
gbv@nfbpwc.org

From Awareness to Action

Kemi Oyebade — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 17:20:00 GMT

From Awareness to Action

The NFBPWC Gender-Based Violence Committee has continued its commitment to education, awareness, and survivor-centred action in 2026. In April, the committee launched its educational series with a powerful and moving talk by survivor and advocate Elle Amani. Elle courageously shared her personal journey and offered practical insights on recognizing and responding to gender-based violence in families, workplaces, and communities.

On May 23rd, we continued this important conversation with Angie Jackson Wilson, Immediate Past President of Monroe–West Monroe BPW and Chair of the NFBPWC Nominations and Bylaws and Procedures Committees. Angie courageously shared the story of her son, Jay Wilson, who was tragically murdered in 2020 while trying to help someone in a dangerous situation. She spoke about Jay’s character, his passion for martial arts, and how he was posthumously awarded a fourth-degree black belt.

She also shared the community’s response, including tributes, a memorial fund, and an annual tournament renamed in Jay’s honour. Throughout her talk, Angie highlighted the profound and lasting impact of violence not only on families but on entire communities and the strength required to transform personal tragedy into purposeful advocacy. She also reflected on the difficult journey through the justice system and how some actions have consequences that families carry for a lifetime.

The session was attended by Barbara Bozeman, President of NFBPWC and a member of the Gender-Based Violence Committee, BPW members including Sher Singh, Barbara Davis, Gillian Crooke, and Gloria Salas, members from BPW NAC, and members of the Jackson family.

Several participants, including Lileth Nelson, BPW St. Andrew, Jamaica, shared their own experiences with trauma and offered words of support to Angie.

Reflecting on these powerful sessions, I am reminded that violence changes lives forever. But as Angie has shown us, even in the deepest pain it is possible to choose purpose, to choose advocacy, and to choose healing not just for ourselves, but for others.

As the Gender-Based Violence Committee, we remain committed to creating spaces where stories like Angie and Jay’s are heard, and where we continue working towards prevention, support, and justice.

We are making steady progress on our flagship project, the “Inform Guidebook on Gender-Based Violence”. This practical resource will provide members and allies with clear information, safety tools, and actionable steps. Insights shared during our educational sessions will directly shape its content.

Our next committee meeting is June 3rd. We warmly invite all members to participate in upcoming events and to consider volunteering with the committee. Your voice and support are vital as we continue moving from awareness to meaningful, survivor-centred action.

Sujata Tiwari
Chair Gender-Based Violence
gbv@nfbpwc.org

Gender-Based Violence

Kemi Oyebade — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 17:15:00 GMT

SDGs in Action: One Woman’s Journey from Personal Resilience to Global Impact

Recently, at the CFBPW Annual Conference, the powerful message rang clear: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Action begins with individual efforts. No grand organisation or government policy can create real change unless ordinary individuals decide to stand up, speak out, and act.

I was deeply honoured to receive the Certificate of Recognition as “Changemaker for Resilience, Women’s Empowerment, and Social Transformation (India)” from the Icons of Change Global Secretariat on December 10, 2025 – Human Rights Day.

This award recognises my contributions toward advancing United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5: Gender Equality. For me, it is not just an honor, it is a powerful reminder that one person’s lived experience and determination can ripple outward and touch many lives.

My own journey began in the most difficult circumstances. Losing my father at the age of 10, facing gender bias, workplace harassment, stalking, and my daughter’s traumatic experience taught me firsthand the devastating impact of gender-based violence. These challenges could have broken me. Instead, they became the fuel for my life’s work.

Through my book Against All Odds: No Retakes, No Manuals, Real Life Lessons, my podcast Hangout with Sujata, along with my roles as Regional Vice President – Asia Pacific for the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) and their representative to the UN, I work every day to turn pain into purpose.

As Chair of the NFBPWC Gender-Based Violence Committee, I lead efforts to educate members, raise awareness, and build practical support systems for survivors.

I also serve as a Voluntary Case Officer with the Singapore Prison Service and as a befriender with the Rain Tree Project under Rotary, supporting formerly incarcerated individuals and their families.

Every workshop I conduct, every story I share, and every survivor I mentor is a small but meaningful step toward SDG 5. When one woman finds her voice, when one community begins to challenge silence around violence, when one leader chooses to elevate others instead of gatekeeping, that is SDG 5 in action.

The Icons of Change award is not the end of a journey; it is confirmation that individual efforts matter. Each of us, in our own sphere, whether in our clubs, workplaces, families, or communities has the power to create change.

As BPW members, we are uniquely positioned to turn awareness into action. Let us continue to support one another, speak up for those who cannot, and build a world where every woman and girl can live free from fear and violence.

Because real change does not start with grand declarations.

It starts with one woman deciding to rise and then helping others do the same.

Sujata Tiwari
Chair Gender-Based Violence
gbv@nfbpwc.org

Gender Based Violence Committee Report

Kemi Oyebade — Sun, 03 Sep 2023 16:20:00 GMT

Gender Based Violence Committee Report
By: Veera Mahajan, NFBPWC Gender Based Violence Committee Chair

Unraveling Gender-Based Violence: Confronting Our Inner Demons

Gender-based violence, a pervasive and insidious social issue, continues to cast a dark shadow over societies worldwide. Its roots run deep, intertwining with cultural norms, power dynamics, and personal attitudes. In our quest to eradicate this menace, it’s essential to recognize that the problem often lies not only in external forces, but within ourselves – in our discomfort, fear, and pride.

At the heart of the matter lies discomfort. We are often uneasy discussing gender-based violence, as it forces us to confront uncomfortable truths about the society we live in. This discomfort can lead to avoidance, denial, and harmful behaviors. It’s crucial to acknowledge this discomfort and actively engage in open dialogues, creating safe spaces to challenge and transform the narratives that sustain gender-based violence.

Fear, too, plays a significant role. Fear of backlash, ridicule, or retaliation can prevent individuals from speaking out or intervening. Fear of losing societal acceptance or personal relationships can keep victims trapped in silence. By acknowledging these fears, we can work towards fostering a culture of empathy and support, empowering survivors to come forward and allies to stand up against violence.

Pride can also be a stumbling block. Our ego sometimes blinds us to our own biases, making it challenging to recognize and address harmful behaviors. A culture that normalizes toxic masculinity or reinforces outdated gender roles feeds into this pride. Unlearning these ingrained beliefs is essential for dismantling the foundations of gender-based violence.

To combat gender-based violence effectively, we must embark on an introspective journey, examine our discomfort, fear, and pride. By acknowledging these internal barriers, we can actively work towards creating a more equitable and just society.

Only through collective self-awareness and action, can we hope to bring an end to the cycle of violence and abuse, fostering a world where every individual can thrive without the shadow of gender-based oppression.

Combating Period Poverty: Ensuring Menstrual Hygiene for All

Period poverty, a grave concern that affects women and girls in impoverished societies, sheds light on the need for comprehensive education about menstrual biology and hygiene, as well as the provision of essential period products. Menstrual cycles are a fundamental aspect of female biology, serving as a natural process indicating reproductive health. However, societal taboos and misinformation have led to a lack of understanding and proper management of menstrual hygiene.

Understanding menstrual biology is crucial for both genders. Menstruation is a sign of reproductive health and is essential for fertility. Proper menstrual hygiene is not only vital for health but also for dignity and confidence. Lack of access to menstrual products can lead to unhygienic practices, affecting physical health and psychological well-being. Girls may miss school, limiting their education and future opportunities.

Addressing period poverty requires a multifaceted approach. Comprehensive sexual education that covers menstrual health, anatomy, and hygiene must be integrated into school curricula. Open conversations about menstruation help dispel myths and reduce stigma. Moreover, access to affordable and sustainable period products is pivotal. Governments have a role to play in ensuring that basic menstrual products are available to all women and girls, regardless of their socioeconomic status.

Government-mandated provision of period products could help break the cycle of period poverty. By considering menstrual hygiene as a basic human right, governments can empower marginalized communities. Collaborating with NGOs and private sector partners can make these products accessible in schools, healthcare facilities, and public spaces.

In conclusion, menstrual hygiene education and the provision of period products are essential components in the fight against period poverty. By promoting awareness about menstrual biology, dismantling stigmas, and ensuring affordable access to period products, societies can uplift women and girls, contributing to their overall well-being, educational attainment, and empowerment. Government initiatives that mandate the availability of menstrual products are crucial steps towards a more equitable and inclusive future.

NFBPWC Gender Based Violence Blog

Gender-Based Violence

BPW Member Rita Smith Discusses Domestic Violence as Part of a new book and an upcoming Live Event

Sharon SimmonsCO/WA

Gender-Based Violence

Women’s Equality Efforts Continue in August

Dr. Joanne Carfioli NaylorChair Gender-Based Violencegbv@nfbpwc.org

Gender-Based Violence

Gender-Based Violence

Sujata TiwariChair Gender-Based Violencegbv@nfbpwc.org

From Awareness to Action

From Awareness to Action

Sujata TiwariChair Gender-Based Violencegbv@nfbpwc.org

Gender-Based Violence

SDGs in Action: One Woman’s Journey from Personal Resilience to Global Impact

Sujata TiwariChair Gender-Based Violencegbv@nfbpwc.org

Gender Based Violence Committee Report

Gender Based Violence Committee ReportBy: Veera Mahajan, NFBPWC Gender Based Violence Committee Chair

Unraveling Gender-Based Violence: Confronting Our Inner Demons

Combating Period Poverty: Ensuring Menstrual Hygiene for All

Sharon Simmons
CO/WA

Dr. Joanne Carfioli Naylor
Chair Gender-Based Violence
gbv@nfbpwc.org

Sujata Tiwari
Chair Gender-Based Violence
gbv@nfbpwc.org

Sujata Tiwari
Chair Gender-Based Violence
gbv@nfbpwc.org

Sujata Tiwari
Chair Gender-Based Violence
gbv@nfbpwc.org

Gender Based Violence Committee Report
By: Veera Mahajan, NFBPWC Gender Based Violence Committee Chair