Violence against Women, by Sr. Bridget Coffie

Women are being killed too often by men around the globe. These men have no compassion for women and slaughter them as if they were animals with no value. Globally, both women and girls live in fear day in and day out. Women suffer so many forms of violence at the hands of men. Society needs to take some precautions to change people’s attitudes towards gender inequalities to protect women.

In some countries, the culture requires an unfortunate woman who has been raped to be killed by her own biological father or brother because it is a shame and disgrace on the family. Such a woman has no right to live. In another example, a woman is buried alive with her dead husband. Some are made to sleep with the dead husband overnight and drink the bath water of the corpse. Some women are beaten mercilessly by their husbands and thrown out of their matrimonial homes. Girls are given into marriage at a very tender age. Girls face the risk of genital mutilation. These events affect their emotional and psychological health. Women continue to suffer violence. Society needs to work hard for transformational change to reduce, prevent, and address domestic violence, rape, bride burnings, dowry death and other forms of violence and abuse against women and girls.

Governments need to develop plans to prevent and address violence against women, strengthening coordination among diverse cultures. Women are torn by violence and governments have an obligation to respond. Fear of violence is paralyzing and polarizing women. Gender inequalities promote the danger of violence by men against women and hinder the ability of the victim to get protection. Government interventions to promote gender equality, such as laws and policies, will play a vital role in the primary prevention of violence against women. There should be effective legislation on violence against women. This should include several key elements to acknowledge violence against women as a form of gender-based discrimination, and the realization that violence may affect different groups of women differently. Legislation should be comprehensive to include provisions regarding violence against women, protection and support for the complainant, and prosecution and punishment of the perpetrator. Legislation must address national realities and serve the interest of all women residing in both rural and urban communities. Vulnerable women and crisis circumstances should receive special attention. Legislation should be regularly be monitored and amended in order to respond to new realities addressing gaps or correcting inadequacies.

Nonetheless, effective education will change the mentality, social patterns, a growing awareness of women’s rights issues and violence against women. Society should be educated on human rights and gender equality. Teaching and learning materials that are used in schools should be revised to address stereotypes. Families should be targeted in terms of raising awareness about women’s rights and challenging social stereotypes. Parental education on women’s rights should also be developed. Training and education programs should be designed to target judges and law enforcement agents like police to ensure protection for women. A sensitization campaign should be launched to make violence against women visible and raise awareness. Congress should not hesitate to support national campaigns on violence against women to combat it. Women themselves need to be educated to know the scope of their rights to preserve them.

Obviously, modification of tradition will be a great tool to alleviate violence against women in today’s society. In many countries, women fall victim to traditional practices that violate their human rights. The persistence of the problem has much to do with the fact that most of these physically and psychologically harmful customs are deeply rooted in the tradition of the society. For example, in Africa and Asia, a large number of women have undergone some form of genital mutilation, a widowhood rite, and suffer from its adverse health effects. Traditions need to be modified to eliminate these practices to respect human rights. The meaning of gender and sexuality and balance of power between men and women at all levels of society must be reviewed. Alleviating violence against women requires challenging the attitude towards gender roles and power relationships that are articulated in society. Traditions consider women as inferior, and there is a strong belief that men are superior to them. Customs need to shift to change the attitude and mentality of people towards women. In addition, issues must be raised to increase awareness of violence against women and to educate boys and men to see women as valuable companions in life, in the development of a society and the attainment of peace and justice as a legal step to protect women. Women’s rights and freedom should be respected everywhere, and the world’s resources should be generously shared.

Violence stops women from accessing their most basic rights to safety, health, education, and work. Due to violence, women experience injury, mental illness, and emotional problems. Violence against women has an economic cost for both individuals and society. For this reason, violence against women constitutes a major obstacle to development, peace, and security. Many women have potential and are capable of striving high for the development of society. However, due to violence, these women are intimidated and unable to exhibit their natural gifts. Education should be given to people from the onset to change their understanding about gender role in society. Both national and local governments need to work collaboratively to give equal protection to women. The right to life, to live freely, is a natural gift of God to all humankind. Women have the right to live to enjoy freedom and justice in their own societies.