Freedom from Fear of Violence

Violence against women and girls continues to be a global epidemic that kills, tortures, and maims- physically, psychologically, sexually and economically. It is one of the most pervasive of human rights violations, denying women and girl’s equality, security, dignity, self worth, and their right to enjoy fundamental right.
Violence against women is present in every country, cutting across boundaries of culture, class, education, income, ethnicity and age. Even though most societies proscribe violence against women, the reality is that violations against women’s human rights are often sanctioned under the grab of cultural practices and norms, or through misinterpretation of religious tenets. Moreover, when the violation takes place within the home, as is very often the case, the abuse is effectively condoned by the tacit silence and passivity displayed by people in general.
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. They are unable to make their own decisions, voice their own opinions or protect themselves and their children for fear of repercussions. Their human rights are denied and their lives are stolen from them by the ever-present threat of violence.
The global dimensions of this violence are alarming, as highlighted by studies on its incidence and prevalence. No society can claim to be free of such violence; the only variation is in the patterns and trends that exist in countries and regions. Specific groups of women are more vulnerable, including minority groups, indigenous and migrant women, refugee women and those in situations of arm conflict, women in institutions and detention, women with disabilities, female children, and elderly women.
Domestic violence – the most prevalent yet relatively hidden and ignored form of violence against women and girls is an issue that needs to be addressed. The need of the hour is co-ordinating and integrating policy responses; enhancing partnerships between stakeholders; setting up mechanisms for monitoring and evaluating programmes and policies; implementing existing legislation; and ensuring greater transparency and accountability from governments in order to eliminate violence against women and girls.
Women groups have long pushed for such responses, and have placed women’s rights firmly on the agenda of international human rights through their advocacy. In recent years, there has been greater understanding of the problem of domestic violence, its causes and consequences, and an international consensus has developed on the need to deal with the issue. The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) adopted by the United Nations General Assembly some 20 years ago, the decade old Convention on the Rights of the Child, the platform for Action adopted at the fourth International Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995, and the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, all reflect this consensus. But progress has been slow because attitudes are deeply entrenched and, to some extent, because effective strategies to address domestic violence are still being defined. As a result, women worldwide continue to suffer, with estimates varying from 20 to 50 per cent from country to country.
This appalling toll will not be eased until families, governments, institutions and civil society organizations address the issue directly. Women and children have a right to protection even within the confines of the family home. Violence against women is perpetrated when legislation, law enforcement and judicial systems condone or do not recognize domestic violence as a crime. One of the major challenges is to end impunity for perpetrators.
The growing momentum has compelled a better understanding of the causes and consequences of violence against women, positive steps have been taken in some countries, including reformation and changing laws that deal with this issue.
Domestic violence is a health, legal, economic, educational, and developmental and, above all, a human rights issue. Much has been done to create awareness and demonstrate that change is not only necessary, it is also possible. Now that strategies for dealing with it are becoming clearer, there is no excuse for inaction.
Erali Swu
Women’s Studies Centre, Nagaland University