Violence Against Women

“We walked through the streets with our protectors. We wore our dresses. We gave up our education because that was the price of safety. That was the bargain we made with the devil we knew to escape the devil we didn’t.” ― C.J. Redwine, Deliverance

A report by The world bank (2019) states that Gender-based violence (GBV) or violence against women and girls (VAWG), is a global pandemic that affects 1 in 3 women in their lifetime.

The numbers are staggering:

• 35% of women worldwide have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence.
• Globally, 7% of women have been sexually assaulted by someone other than a partner.
• Globally, as many as 38% of murders of women are committed by an intimate partner.
• 200 million women have experienced female genital mutilation/cutting.

Some Key facts shared by the WHO (2017):

• Violence against women — particularly intimate partner violence and sexual violence — is a major public health problem and a violation of women’s human rights.
• Global estimates published by WHO indicate that about 1 in 3 (35%) of women worldwide have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime.
• Most of this violence is intimate partner violence. Worldwide, almost one third (30%) of women who have been in a relationship report that they have experienced some form of physical and/or sexual violence by their intimate partner in their lifetime.
• Globally, as many as 38% of murders of women are committed by a male intimate partner.
• Violence can negatively affect women’s physical, mental, sexual, and reproductive health, and may increase the risk of acquiring HIV in some settings.
• Men are more likely to perpetrate violence if they have low education, a history of child maltreatment, exposure to domestic violence against their mothers, harmful use of alcohol, unequal gender norms including attitudes accepting of violence, and a sense of entitlement over women.
• Women are more likely to experience intimate partner violence if they have low education, exposure to mothers being abused by a partner, abuse during childhood, and attitudes accepting violence, male privilege, and women’s subordinate status.
• There is evidence that advocacy and empowerment counselling interventions, as well as home visitation are promising in preventing or reducing intimate partner violence against women.
• Situations of conflict, post conflict and displacement may exacerbate existing violence, such as by intimate partners, as well as and non-partner sexual violence, and may also lead to new forms of violence against women.

In India, according to the National Crime Records Bureau,

• Reported incidents of crime against women increased 6.4% during 2012, and a crime against a woman is committed every three minutes.
• In 2011, there were greater than 228,650 reported incidents of crime against women, while in 2015, there were over 300,000 reported incidents, a 44% increase.
• Of the women living in India, 7.5% live in West Bengal where 12.7% of the total reported crime against women occurs.
• Andhra Pradesh is home to 7.3% of India’s female population and accounts for 11.5% of the total reported crimes against women.
• 65% of Indian men believe women should tolerate violence in order to keep the family together, and women sometimes deserve to be beaten. In January 2011, the International Men and Gender Equality Survey (IMAGES) Questionnaire reported that 24% of Indian men had committed sexual violence at some point during their lives.

Exact statistics on the extent case occurrences are very difficult to obtain, as a large number of cases go unreported. This is due in large part to the threat of ridicule or shame on the part of the potential reporter, as well as an immense pressure not to damage the family’s honor. For similar reasons, law enforcement officers are more motivated to accept offers of bribery from the family of the accused, or perhaps in fear of more grave consequences, such as Honor Killing.

Violence against women occur in many forms like Murders (Dowry deaths, Honor killings, Witchcraft-related murders, Female infanticide and Sex-selective abortion), Sexual crimes (Rape, Marital rape, Human trafficking and forced prostitution) Domestic violence, Public humiliation, Abuse, Forced and child marriage, Acid throwing and Abductions etc.

Violence Against Women continues to be one of the most prevalent and least recognized human rights violations in the world.

The change starts from us, being aware of the issues going on around us, educating ourselves and supporting others who have gone through such acts of brutality. It is all interconnected, it all comes around, we educate ourselves, the younger generations, teach them the basic moral human values, become a model for them and they in turn grow up to be a responsible and aware human being, building a healthy community.

“I’m scarred, inside and out, but I’m also stronger. I’ve learned how to be a warrior. I’ve learned that hope rises out of the ashes if I let it.” ― C.J. Redwine, Deliverance