Women and violence
Violence affects the lives of millions of women around the world, in all socio-economic and educational classes. It goes across cultural and religious barriers, impeding the right of women to participate fully in society. Violence against women takes a dismaying variety of forms, from domestic abuse and rape of child marriages and female circumcision. All are violations of the most fundamental human rights.
In a statement to the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in September 1995, said UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali that violence against women is a universal problem there must be universally condemned. But he said that the problem continues to grow.
The Secretary General noted that domestic violence alone is increasing. Surveys in 10 countries, he said, have found that between 17 percent and 38 percent of women have suffered physical abuse by a partner.
The Platform for Action, the founding document of the Beijing Conference, the government declared that "violence against women is a violation of fundamental human rights and is a obstacle to the achievement of equality, development and peace ".
The work of the Special Reporter
The issue of promoting women's rights, the United Nations since its founding. But the alarming global dimensions of female-targeted violence was not explicitly recognized by the international community until December 1993 when the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against women.
Until that time, a trend most governments to consider violence against women, largely as a private matter between individuals, and not as a pervasive human rights problem requiring government intervention. In light of the alarming increase in cases of violence against women worldwide, Commission adopted the Commission on Human Rights resolution 1994/45 of 4 March 1994 when it decided to designate the Special Reporter on violence against women, including its causes and consequences.
As a result of these steps, the problem of violence against women has been drawing increasing political attention. The Special Reporter has a mandate to collect and analyze comprehensive data and to recommend measures to combat violence at international, national and regional level. The mandate is threefold:? To gather information on violence against women, its causes and consequences from sources such as governments, treaty bodies, specialized agencies and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, and to to respond effectively to such information, will recommend measures and methods and means, at national, regional and international levels to eliminate violence against women and its causes, and to remedy its consequences; to work closely with other specialized reporters, special representatives, working groups and independent Experts Commission on Human Rights.
Incest, rape and domestic violence
Some women are victims of violence before they are born, when expectant parents interrupt their unborn daughters, hoping for sons instead. In other societies, girls are exposed to such traditional methods such as circumcision, which leaves them maimed and traumatized. In others, they are forced to marry at an early age, before they are physically, mentally or emotionally mature.
Women are victims of incest, rape and domestic violence, which often leads to trauma, physical disability or death. And rape is still used as a weapon of war, a strategy used to suppress and intimidate entire communities. Soldiers deliberately impregnate women from different ethnic groups and abandon them, when it is too late to get an abortion. The Action Program adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women declared that rape in armed conflicts is a war crime – and could in certain circumstances be regarded as genocide. Secretary General Boutros-Ghali told the conference in Beijing that more women today were directly affected from the effects of wars and conflicts than ever before in history.
"There is an unfortunate tendency toward organized humiliation of women, including crime of mass rape, "said Secretary-General." We will press for an international trial of those who commit organized violence against women in time of conflict. "
A preliminary report in 1994 by the Special Reporter, Ms. Radhika Coomaraswamy, focuses on three areas of concern where women are particularly vulnerable:
1. in the family (including domestic violence, traditional practices, infanticide);
2. in the community (including rape, sexual assault, commercialized violence such as trafficking in women, labor exploitation, female migrant workers, etc.);
3. and the State (including violence against women in prison and violence against women in situations of armed conflict and against refugee women).
In the Platform for Action adopted at the Beijing Conference, violence against women and human rights of women are 2 of the 12 critical areas identified as the main obstacles to women's careers.
Commitment from governments
Governments agree to adopt and implement national legislation to end violence against women and to work actively to ratify all international agreements relating to violence against women. They agreed that there should be shelters, legal assistance and other services for girls and women risk, and counseling and rehabilitation of offenders. Governments also pledged to adopt appropriate measures in education to change social and cultural patterns of behavior of men and women. Platform and invited media people to develop self-regulatory guidelines to address violent, degrading and pornographic material while promoting non-stereotyped, balanced and diverse images of women.
Definition of gender-based abuse
The Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women is the first international human rights instrument to exclusively and explicitly address the issue of violence against women. It confirms that the phenomenon violates, impairs or abrogate human rights of women and their exercise of fundamental freedoms.
The Declaration contains a definition of gender-based abuse, calling it "any act of gender-based violence that results in or is likely to result in physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life ".
Definition is reinforced in Article 2 of the Declaration, which identifies three areas where violence often takes place:
1.Physical, sexual and psychological violence occurring within families, including stroke, sexual abuse of female children in the household, dowry-related violence, marital rape, female genital mutilation and other traditional practices harmful to women, non-spouse contributions violence and violence related to exploitation;
2. Physically, sexual and psychological violence occurring within the general community, including rape, sexual abuse, sexual harassment and intimidation at work, in educational and elsewhere, trafficking in women and forced prostitution;
3. Physical, sexual and psychological violence perpetrated or condoned by the State, wherever it happens.
Preparatory work is presented in Vienna
The importance of the issue of violence against women was highlighted in the last decade through the holding of several meetings of a group of experts sponsored by the United Nations to raise awareness of the extent and severity of the problem.
In September 1992, the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women established a special working group, and gave it a mandate to elaborate a draft declaration on violence against women.
The next year, condemned the UN Commission on Human Rights, in resolution 1993/46 of 3 March, all forms of violence and violations of human rights directed specifically against women. World Conference on Human Rights held in Vienna in June 1993, which includes the basis for the elimination of violence against women. The Vienna Declaration and Program of Action, Governments declared that the UN system and Member States should work towards elimination of violence against women in public and private life, all forms of sexual harassment, exploitation and trafficking of women, gender bias in the justice system, and any conflicts that arise between the rights of women and the harmful effects of certain traditional or customary practices, cultural prejudices and religious extremism.
The document also stated that "violations of human rights of women in situations of armed conflict are violations of the fundamental principles of international human rights and humanitarian Law "and that all violations of this nature – including murder, systematic rape, sexual slavery and forced pregnancy -" require a particularly effective
response. "
Forms of violence against women
Domestic Violence
Violence against women in the family occurs in developed and developing countries. It has long been considered a private matter, as spectators – including neighbors, community and government. But such private matters have a tendency to become public tragedies.
In the U.S., a woman is turned every 18 minutes. Indeed, domestic violence is the leading cause of disability in women of childbearing age in the U.S.. Between 22 and 35 percent of women who visit emergency rooms are there because of it. The much advertising lawsuit against OJ Simpson, the retired U.S. footballer acquitted of the murder of his ex-wife and a male friend of hers, helped focus international media attention on the problem of domestic violence and spouse contributions abuse. In Peru, reported 70 percent of all crimes to the police involve women beaten by their men. In Pakistan, Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto strongly defended a 35-year-old mother of two who was severely burned by her husband in a domestic conflict.
"There is no excuse for such behavior," declared Prime Minister after visiting hospitalized victims. "My presence here is to send a message to all those who violate Islamic teachings and defy the laws of the country with their inhuman treatment of women. This will not be tolerated. "According to Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, in 400 cases of domestic violence reported in 1993 province of Punjab, nearly half ended with the death of the wife.
According to the Special Reporter's report, many governments now recognize the importance to protect victims of domestic violence and take measures to punish perpetrators. Establish structures that enable officers to deal with cases of domestic violence and its consequences is an important step towards eliminating violence against women in the family.
The Special Reporter's report highlights importance of enacting legislation which allows for prosecution of the perpetrator. It also underlines the importance of specialized training for law enforcement authorities and medical and legal professionals, and the establishment of Community support services for victims, including access to information and shelters.
Traditional practice
In many countries, women fall victim to traditional practices that violate their human rights. The continuing problem has little to do with the fact that most of these physically and psychologically harmful customs are deeply rooted in tradition and culture in society.
FGM
According to World Health Organization, 85 million to 115 million girls and women in the population have undergone some form of female genital mutilation and suffer of its adverse health effects. Each year an estimated 2 million girls undergo this procedure. Most live in Africa and Asia – but a growing number can be found among immigrant and refugee families in Western Europe and North America. Indeed, the practice has been banned in some European countries. In France, a Malian was convicted in a criminal after his little girl died of a female circumcision infection. The procedure was performed on the child at home.
In Canada, for fear of being forced to undergo circumcision may be grounds for asylum. A Nigerian woman was granted refugee status because she felt she could be persecuted in his homeland because of her refusal to inflict circumcision of her daughter. There is a growing consensus that the best way to eliminate this practice through information campaigns that emphasize their harmful consequences. Several governments have been actively promoting such campaigns in their countries.
Son preference
Son preference affects women in many countries, particularly in Asia. The consequences can be anything from embryos or female infanticide to neglect of girl child to her brother in the form of such basic needs such as nutrition, basic healthcare and education. In China and India, some women choose to terminate their pregnancies when expecting daughters but their pregnancy to term when expecting sons.
According to reports from India, genetic testing for sex selection has become a thriving business especially in its northern regions. Indian sex-detection clinics drew protests from women's groups after the emergence of advertising suggesting that it was better to spend $ 38 now to terminate a female fetus than $ 3,800 later on her dowry. A survey of amniocentesis procedures performed in a large Bombay hospital found that 95.5 percent of fetuses identified as female were cut, compared with a much smaller percentage of male fetuses. The problem of Sundays preference is present in many other countries. Asked how many children his father, the former United States boxing champion Muhammad Ali told an interviewer: "One boy and seven mistakes."
Dowry-related violence and early marriages
In some countries the weddings Prior to the payment of an agreed dowry from the bride's family. Failure to pay dowry can lead to violence.
In Bangladesh, where a bride's dowry was considered too small was disfigured after her husband threw acid on her face. In India, an average of five women a day are burned in dowry-related disputes – and many more cases are never reported. Early marriage, especially without consent from the young girl, is another form of violation of human rights. Early marriage, followed by multiple gestations may affect women's health for life. The report from the special reporter has documented the devastating effects of marriage of female children under 18 years and has urged governments to adopt the relevant legislation.
Violence in the Community
Rape
Rape can occur anywhere, even in families where it can take the form of marital rape or incest. It happens in society where a woman can fall prey to any abuser. It seems also in situations of armed conflict and refugee camps.
In the U.S., shows, national statistics show that a woman is raped every six minutes. In 1995 drew up the case of a Brazilian jogger raped and murdered in New York's Central Park international attention once again to the problem. The incident occurred only a few years after an earlier sensational jogger attack where the victim – an American attack in the same general area of the park – barely survived after her assailants left her death.
Relationship between the inhabitants of the Japanese island of Okinawa and American GIs were thrown into chaos in 1995 after two marines and a sailor allegedly abducted and raped a 12-year-old girl. The Special Reporter? S report stresses the importance of education to sensitize the public about specific horrors of rape, and sensitivity training for police and hospital staff who work with victims.
Sexual violence within marriage
In many countries, sexual assault of a man on his wife is not considered a crime: a wife is expected to present. It is therefore very difficult in practice for a woman to prove that sexual assault has taken place, unless she can prove serious injury. The report of the Special Reporter noted that light sentences in sexual
assault cases sends the wrong message to perpetrators and to the general public: that female sexual victimization is unimportant.
Sexual harassment
Sexual harassment in the workplace is a growing concern for women. Employers abusing their authority to seek sexual favors from their female colleagues or subordinates, sometimes promising promotions and other career or simply creates a untenable and hostile work environment. Women who refuse to give in to such unwanted sexual advances often risking anything from demotion to dismissal. But in recent years more women have come forward to report such practices – some taking their cases to court.
In its report, the Special Reporter stressed that sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination. "It is not only degrades the woman," the report noted, "but forces and reflects the idea of non-professionalism on the part of women workers, who therefore considered less able to perform their work than their male counterparts. "
Prostitution and trafficking
Many women are forced into prostitution either of their parents, husbands or boyfriends – or as a result of the difficult economic and social conditions as they are. They are also lured into in prostitution, sometimes with "mail-order bride" agencies that promise to find them a husband or a job in a foreign country. As a result, very often find themselves illegally confined the board or in slave-like conditions where they are physically abused, and their passports are withheld.
Most women first victim of sexual traffickers have little idea what awaits them. They generally have a very small percentage of what the customer pays for a pimp or brothel owner. Once they are trapped in the system is practically measure the way out, and they are in a very vulnerable situation. Since prostitution is illegal in many countries, it is difficult for prostitutes to come forward and ask for protection if they are victims of rape or want to escape from brothels. Customers, on the other hand, are rarely subject to criminal laws.
In Thailand, prostitutes complaint with the police often arrested and sent back to the brothels against payment of a fine. The extent of trafficking in women and girls has reached alarming proportions, especially in the Asian countries.
Many women and girls are trafficked across borders, often with the complicity of border guards. In one incident, roasted five young prostitutes to death in a brothel fire because they had been chained to their beds. Meanwhile, sex tours in developing countries, a well-organized industry in several European and other industrialized countries.
The Special Reporter has called on governments to take measures to protect young girls from being recruited as prostitutes, and to closely monitor recruiting agencies.
Violence against women migrant workers
Female Migrant workers typically leave their countries for better living conditions and better pay – but the real benefit for both host countries and home countries.
For home countries, money sent home by migrant workers are an important source of hard currency, while receiving countries are unable to find workers for low wage jobs that would otherwise would go unfilled.
But the migrant workers themselves fare poorly, and sometimes tragic. Many are virtual slaves, subject to abuse and rape by their employers.
In the Middle East and the Persian Gulf region, there is an estimated 1.2 million women, mostly Asians, who are employed as domestic helpers. According to the independent human rights group Middle East Watch, female migrant workers in Kuwait often suffer violence and sexual assault in the hands their employers.
The police are often of little help. In many cases, women who report being raped by their employers sent back to the employer – or even attack the police station. Working conditions are often appalling, and employers prevent women from escaping by confiscating their passports or identity papers. The report of the Special Reporter draws attention to the fact that there are many international instruments that can be used to prevent abuse against women migrants and proposes a series of measures to protect the human rights of migrant women.
Pornography
Another concern highlighted in the Special Reporter's report is pornography, which represents a form of violence against women that "glamorizes the degradation and abuse of women and asserts their subordinate function as mere receptacles for male lust. "
Violence perpetrated or condoned by states
Custodial violence against women
Violence against women by the very people who are supposed to protect them – members of law enforcement and criminal justice systems – is widespread.
Women are physically or verbally abuse, they also suffer sexual and physical torture. According to Amnesty International, thousands of women in custody are routinely raped in detention centers around the world. The report of the Special Reporter emphasizes the need for states to prosecute those accused of abusing women while in prison, and to hold them accountable for their actions.
Violence against women in armed conflicts
Rape has often been used as a weapon of war, when armed conflict occurs between the various parties. It has been used throughout the world: in Chiapas, Mexico, Rwanda, in Kuwait, in Haiti, in Colombia. Women and girls are often victims of mass rape committed by soldiers from all sides of a conflict. Such acts are done mainly in order to trample dignity of victims. Rape has been used to strengthen the policy of ethnic cleansing in the war that has been tearing apart the former Yugoslavia.
The so-called "comfort women" – Young girls of colonized or occupied countries who were sex slaves for Japanese soldiers during World War II – has dramatized the problem of a historical context. Many of these women have now come forward and claim compensation for their suffering from the Japanese authorities. "Such is the symbolic rape rape of society, the destruction of the basic elements of a society and culture – the ultimate humiliation of the male enemy, "Report of the Special Reporter noted. It stresses the need to keep such crimes fully accountable.
Violence against refugee and displaced women
Women and children constitute the vast majority of refugees the world over and are vulnerable to violence and exploitation. In refugee camps, they are raped and abused by military and immigration staff, bandit groups, male refugees and rival ethnic groups. They are also forced into prostitution. In its report proposes specific reporter following measures to be taken to protect women and girls in refugee camps: the improvement of security, deployment of trained female officers at all points of the refugees' journey women in organizational structures in the camps and prosecution by the government and military personnel responsible for the abuse of refugee women.
Legal steps to criminalize violence against women
In recent years some countries have taken significant steps to improve legislation on violence against women. For example:
# In July 1991, Mexico revised its rape law in several important ways. A provision was eliminated, having a man who rapes a minor to avoid prosecution if he agrees to marry her. Now judges are required to deliver a decision on access to abortion within five working days.
# On 9 June 1994 adopted the OAS Inter-American Convention to Prevent, Punish and Eradicate violence against women a new international instrument that recognizes all gender-based violence as an abuse of human rights. This Convention provides an individual right to petition and a right of non-governmental organizations to lodge complaints with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
# In Australia, a national committee on violence against women was created to coordinate the development of policy, legislation and law enforcement at the national level as well as community education on violence against women.
# In 1991 the Canadian government announced a new four-year family violence initiative aims to mobilize community action, to strengthen Canada's legal framework, establish services on Indian reserves and in Inuit communities, develop resources to help victims and stop offenders and provide housing for abused women and children.
# In Turkey, a ministry responsible for women was created whose main objectives include promoting women's rights and strengthen their role in the economic, social, political and cultural life. Legal measures adopted towards the elimination of violence against women.
Establishment of special courts to deal with violence is planned. Psychological treatment for abused women is also planned in conjunction with the introduction of women's shelters around the country. Specially trained female police officers could provide assistance to victims of violence. ? In Burkina Faso, a strong advertising campaign by the government as well as television and radio programs on the unhealthy practice of circumcision was launched to inform and increase public awareness about the dangerous consequences of such an "operation". A National Anti-Excision Committee was established in 1990 by the current head of state. Today, the practice of circumcision has been eliminated in some villages in Burkina Faso. In other countries there has been an incredible decrease in the number of cut girls: only 10 percent of girls are carved out over 100 percent 10 years ago.
? Some countries have introduced police units specially trained to treat spouse contributions attacks. In Brazil, the special police stations have been designated to deal with women's problems including domestic violence. These police stations are staffed exclusively by women.
Ensuring that laws are respected
These examples illustrate some steps taken to national level to eradicate violence against women. Combat and eradicate this scourge requires enhanced and concerted efforts to protect women at local, national and international schedule.
States have tended to adopt a passive attitude when confronted with cases of violations of women's rights by private actors. Most laws fail to protect victims or punish perpetrators. To adopt laws to criminalize violence against women is an important way to redefine the boundaries of acceptable behavior.
Member States should ensure that national legislation, once adopted, do not go unenforced. State responsibility are clearly highlighted Article 4 of the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women, which stipulates that "States should exercise due diligence to prevent, investigate and in accordance with national laws, punishment – violence against women, whether those acts are committed by the State or by private persons ".
Any strategy to combat violence must be double, tackling the root causes of the problem and examine its manifestations. Society as a whole, including judges and police are trained to change social attitudes and beliefs that promote male violence.
Conclusion
The importance of gender and sexuality and the balance of power between women and men at all levels of society must be reviewed. Violence against women requires challenging the way that gender roles and power relations are formulated in society. In many countries women have low status. They are regarded as inferior, and there is a strong belief that men are better than them and even own them. Changing attitudes and mentality towards women will take a long time – at least a generation, many believe, and perhaps longer. Nevertheless, raising awareness of the problem of violence against women and educate boys and men to view women as valuable partners in life, in the development of a society and in the achievement of peace is as important as taking legal steps to protect women's human rights. It is also important to prevent violence, to non-violent means must be used to resolve conflicts between all members of society. Break vicious cycle of abuse will require concerted collaboration and action between governmental and non-state actors, including educators, health care authorities, legislators, judiciary and mass media.
About the Author
Loveleen Kaur Chawla
MBA/NET qualified
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