Stop the violence- that’s what we said, how far is it true? How far human rights are respected at home, in public places or anywhere? Why women and children are the everyday victims?
Victim means weakness; weakness means violence…Can we really stop or reduce violence? Domestic violence should not happen to anybody. But it does. Women and children are often in great danger in the place where they should be safest: within their families. For many, ‘home’ is where they face a regime of terror and violence at the hands of somebody close to them – somebody they should be able to trust. Those victimized suffer physically and psychologically. Their human rights are denied and their lives are stolen from them by the ever-present threat of violence.
A great deal of attention is placed on domestic violence (or violence within the family) and its effects on women and girls. At the same time, violence against women and girls extends into the public sphere (such as sexual harassment, rape, robbery). The violence against women and girls in the public and private spheres are not separate issues and as such, should not be treated separately to eliminate violence against women and girls.
The U.N. Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) reports that “Violence against women worldwide” that up to 70 percent of women experience physical or sexual violence from men in their lifetime – the majority from husbands, partners or someone they know. Among women aged 15–44, acts of violence cause more death and disability than cancer, malaria, traffic accidents and war combined.
Physical violence is estimated to occur in 4 to 6 million intimate relationships each year in the United States and 83 percent of girls aged 12–16 experienced some form of sexual harassment in public schools. In South Africa, a woman is killed every six hours by someone she knows; in Guatemala, two women are murdered, on average, each day. In São Paulo, Brazil, a woman is assaulted every 15 seconds. Rape of women is widespread in armed conflicts such as those of Colombia and Darfur, Sudan. In the European Union between 40 and 50 percent of women experience unwanted sexual advancements, physical contact or other forms of sexual harassment at their workplace.
Victim means weakness; weakness means violence…Can we really stop or reduce violence? Domestic violence should not happen to anybody. But it does. Women and children are often in great danger in the place where they should be safest: within their families. For many, ‘home’ is where they face a regime of terror and violence at the hands of somebody close to them – somebody they should be able to trust. Those victimized suffer physically and psychologically. Their human rights are denied and their lives are stolen from them by the ever-present threat of violence.
A great deal of attention is placed on domestic violence (or violence within the family) and its effects on women and girls. At the same time, violence against women and girls extends into the public sphere (such as sexual harassment, rape, robbery). The violence against women and girls in the public and private spheres are not separate issues and as such, should not be treated separately to eliminate violence against women and girls.
The U.N. Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) reports that “Violence against women worldwide” that up to 70 percent of women experience physical or sexual violence from men in their lifetime – the majority from husbands, partners or someone they know. Among women aged 15–44, acts of violence cause more death and disability than cancer, malaria, traffic accidents and war combined.
Physical violence is estimated to occur in 4 to 6 million intimate relationships each year in the United States and 83 percent of girls aged 12–16 experienced some form of sexual harassment in public schools. In South Africa, a woman is killed every six hours by someone she knows; in Guatemala, two women are murdered, on average, each day. In São Paulo, Brazil, a woman is assaulted every 15 seconds. Rape of women is widespread in armed conflicts such as those of Colombia and Darfur, Sudan. In the European Union between 40 and 50 percent of women experience unwanted sexual advancements, physical contact or other forms of sexual harassment at their workplace.
In Mauritius, violence in the family includes battering by intimate partners and others, sexual abuse of female children and young women, marital rape and traditional practices harmful to women.
Women and young girls face harassment while using public transportation in Kathmandu, Nepal. It is common and tolerated, and there is no law to punish the culprits. WHY? Same in Hungary, existing laws don’t do enough to protect women. “At least one woman a week dies in Hungary as a result of domestic violence,” said Krisztina Morvai to the Central Europe Review in 2001, when she had published her book “Terror in the Family.
Barriers
Women and girls are more afraid in public space due to their experiences of violence at home. Violence against women and girls in public is also perceived as normal and deserved when it is a continuation of violence in the home. How do we bridge this gap? How can we develop a dialogue and awareness-raising strategy that encompasses all forms of violence against women?
Many minority women in Canada who face the issue of abuse have to deal not only with the violence itself but with barriers involving race and gender that prevent them from seeking help.
A moving report titled Gender Violence in India by Prajnya shows that violence against women is on the rise in India. Panay’s report, however, uses new methodology and a variety of reports to provide a more accurate depiction of the crimes being committed against women in India. It draws attention to six kinds of violence: pre‐natal sex selection (at least 10 million missing girls,), child marriage and forced marriage, highest rate in South Asia, honor killing (common in India), dowry death, domestic violence, girls trafficking, and rape.
What are some of the best practices in preventing trafficking?” and “How do we protect victims from further abuse and violence?”How to reduce the existing problems?
Facts and figures:
• At least 60 million girls are "missing" from various populations, mostly in Asia, as a result of sex-selective abortions, infanticide or neglect.
• One in three women and girls is beaten or sexually abused in her lifetime. (UN Commission on the Status of Women, 2/28/00).
• 4 million women and girls are trafficked annually. (United Nations).An estimated one million children, mostly girls, enter the sex trade each year (UNICEF)
• The most common act of violence against women is being slapped—an experience reported by 9% of women in Japan and 52% in provincial Peru. Rates of sexual abuse also varies greatly around the world—with partner rape being reported by 6% of women from Serbia and Montenegro, 46% of women from provincial Bangladesh, and 59% of women in Ethiopia. (WHO Multi-country Study on Women’s Health and Domestic Violence Against Women, 2005)
• More than 90 million African women and girls are victims of female circumcision or other forms of genital mutilation. (Heise: 1994)
Stop the violence
• Through education and awareness campaigns, media communication and laws
• Across Central America, online campaigns and activities to raise awareness about the issue of violence against women are taking place across the region. In Guatemala, the Multi-Annual Campaign (extended from 2008 to 2015) of the Regional Chapter, “JOIN together to put an End to Violence against Women” was recently launched, and Radio Feminista is reporting on the event at the collaborative space Fin a la Violencia (End to Violence).
So where to start? Whom to be blamed? Who is responsible? When are we going to understand others hurt?
Concept Map
