Speaking on October 1, 2008, at the launching of the Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright asserted that the fight against domestic abuse and violence is a fight for human dignity, much as the historical struggles for freeing slaves, ending apartheid, securing Civil Rights, improving labor conditions and ensuring political liberty across the world.

Addressing over 600 staff and spouses from the World Bank, the IMF, and the IADB, who had flooded the Preston Auditorium to hear her speak, Albright urged: “We should all shout from the rooftops that Domestic Abuse is wrong,” that it “violates fundamental human rights,” and that “victims deserve our attention, need our assistance, and are entitled to the protection of the Law.”

To Madeleine Albright, “the ability to close doors and hide the truth is precisely why domestic abuse occurs so frequently.” Pointing out that “domestic abuse is a challenge in every country, at all levels of society and in each culture,” she declared to the applause of the audience: “The issues involved are not cultural, they are criminal!”

The event had started with the compelling and forceful sounds of Batala, an all-women percussion band led by Brazilian-born and WBFN member, Solange Amorelli. There could not have been a better introduction to a subject that is so often treated with silence, embarrassment and shame.

Edith Grace Ssempla, acting senior vice-president for external affairs, followed with opening remarks that called for public exposure, noting that “Domestic abuse thrives in the shadows, and cannot survive in the light of day.”

It was then the turn of managing director Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to take the floor. “What a fantastic turnout!” she exclaimed, adding “It is very heartening. It shows that people know that [Domestic Abuse] is an issue that we take seriously at the Bank.”

Okonjo-Iweala proceeded then to underline the business cost of Domestic Abuse to the Bank: “Beyond being a severe personal matter, Domestic Violence costs the World Bank time and money in the form of work performance problems, excessive calls and visits, inability to travel for work or use of travel to solve other problems.” She also underlined the ensuing risk to the reputation of the World Bank.

This was an opportunity for Okonjo-Iweala to acknowledge the role WBFN played in being the first to bring cases of domestic abuse to the attention of the Bank. She then related what the World Bank has done to date to address the issue and what it can do better (see insert). “Unfortunately,” she said, “we see all types and degrees of abuse: physical, financial, emotional, psychological and sexual.” Victims often stay in the marriage for years, mistakenly believing that the abuser has the influence and access to legal resources to make good on threats such as having the G4 visa of the victim revoked, obtaining custody of US-born children, or obtaining divorce outside the US to prevent a fair settlement of spouse/child support and pension rights.

A short period of questions and answers followed Madeleine Albright’s presentation. The topics of a support network for the victims, of financial considerations, of how to recognize emotional abuse, and finally how to rehabilitate offenders, were addressed. In conclusion, Albright remarked that “shining the light on this issue is the beginning of the solution”. Thanking the organizers for having invited her, she added “I salute you for doing this!”

Hasan Tuluy, vice-president for human resources concluded the session by thanking GlobalMobility and the Domestic Abuse Prevention Coordinator, Elizabeth Legrain for organizing the event to the applause of the audience. He then affirmed: “Silence is not the answer. We need to create the safe place where we can bring those conversations out; where we can help the individuals and we can move to a better and more ethical stand on this matter.”

Despite the fact that the program had run over schedule, Madeleine Albright graciously stayed back to autograph copies of her last three books and to take pictures with various attendees. The one picture she probably enjoyed most features her surrounded by the members of the Batala percussion band!