Abuse against Women is a grave injustice and violation ofHuman Rights and fundamental freedoms of women because women are entitled to
equal rights, opportunities, protection and most important of all, Justice.I’m not in any way saying that men don’t get abused bywomen, they do, but the percentage of women being abused in the societyglobally is higher, and it keeps increasing on a daily basis.
Of all basic human rights and fundamental freedoms, eg., theright to life, the right to speech, the right to education, the right to equityand equality, the right to liberty and security of a person, the right to equalprotection under the law, the right to be free from all forms ofdiscrimination, stigma, ill treatments, the right to the highest attainablestandard of physical and mental health, the right to justice and favourableconditions of work, the right not to be oppressed, the right not to besubjected to intimidation and torture, the right not to be relegated, subjugatedor other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment—women are still atthe receiving end
Violence being a very terrible, critical and delicate issuemust not be left unattended to. Most of the abuse and violence cases againstwomen often come from an intimate partner or spouse.
Global estimates published by WHO indicates that about 1 in35% of women worldwide have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimatepartner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime. Worldwide,almost one third (30%) of women who have been in a relationship that exposethem to some form of physical and/or sexual violence by their intimate partners,at least once in their lifetime while some violence and abuse are from closerelations/relatives.
Globally, as many as 38% of murders of women are committedby a male intimate partner—husband/fiancé/boyfriend or even ex.
Abuse could also be sexual, physical, emotional,psychological, financial and verbal and it comes in different forms.
Men are more likely to perpetrate violence if they have loweducation, in some cases, the men that abuse their wives are well educatedacademically, but lack education of the mind due to tradition, individualthought pattern, influence from friends and family, societal orientation, ahistory of child maltreatment and exposure to domestic violence against theirmothers leading to emotional trauma. The psychological effect when they becomeadults resurfaces.
Maltreatments could also be induced by harmful use ofalcohol and hard drugs, personality disorder eg, (narcissistic personality)relationship with toxic friends, sticklers of archaic cultures and traditionsas per patriarchy, misogynistic men, unequal gender norms including attitudesaccepting of violence, and a sense of entitlement over women with the notionthat, women are under men and should be treated as such. And the worstcontributing factor is the hypocritical lie that, “it’s a man’sworld” when in actual sense, it’s a human’s world.
We’ve seen situations whereby the narrative, “men arepolygamous in nature”, “men are heads” exonerates men who cheatand abuse their wives sexually, physically, emotionally, verbally andfinancially – but crucify women when the case is vice versa. This is quite condemnable.
It is important to strive towards creation of social climatewith zero tolerance for abuse against women or any other form of violence, andstrict laws and punishments should be enacted to protect women globally fromabusive men with violent nature.
If measures are not taken, so many men will keep abusingtheir wives with the mentality that, they will get away with it without beingquestioned. Strict laws that will keep offenders in check have to enacted andput to use. A clear message should also be sent across to perpetrators thatanyone found inducing pains or causing violence on another adult would be severelydealt with according to the laws of the land.
Promotions of egalitarian gender norms as part of lifeskills and comprehensive sexuality education curricula that must be taught toyoung people both male and females should also be considered. A climate withouttolerance of abuse and violence of any sort will be assured and achieved.
Abuse against women is Abuse against mankind. It’s thereforean all inclusive fight to help reduce the abuse being meted on women becausewithout women, there wouldn’t be men, and serenity is all we crave for.
On a final note, abused women should learn to be bold enoughto speak up and speak out to get help, support and protection. Shielding yourabuser is enabling and protecting him to keep abusing you while putting yourown life at stake.
A woman’s life matters, no woman should be abused in allramifications, no woman should die of abuse and domestic violence.
Life will be more beautiful when we have a society free fromabuse, violence, gender discrimination and subjugation against women.
The rights of a woman matters and should count because, she’s a human!
Unique Fady writes from Zaria, Kaduna. She can be reached at fadilatikienu@gmail.com
The views expressed in this article are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect WikkiTimes’ editorial stance.
