Gender-based violence has been a stinging issue since time in memorial. ‘Violence against women is another term that is used interchangeably with ‘Gender-based violence’ to refer to the type of violence inflicted to women and girls by men on various grounds and forms (Nakray, 2013). It incorporates all forms of human rights violation as well as discrimination on a gender basis. The end results of violence against women are usually economic, sexual, psychological or physical harm. Capricious dispossession of freedom, threats or coercion whether in private or in public is other acts that are considered as violence against women. Violence against women is usually a direct expression of the inequality of power between men and women (Richards & Haglund, 2015). It is, therefore, a matter of urgent necessity to build a safe community for women to eradicate the dominance of men. While doing so, both men and women should be provided with equal opportunities in all spheres of life i.e. political, economic, social, and cultural. There are various stakeholders who participate in the process of building a safer community for women. They are; the government, various Non-Governmental Organizations, men, women, and the various law enforcement agencies.
It is reported that an estimate of 15-76% of women is targeted for sexual and/or physical violence in their lifetime (United Nation, 2017). In most of the cases, the occurrence of violence is usually within intimate relationships. 9-70% of abused women usually report that their husbands or lovers are the perpetrators of these heinous acts. Across all the 28 states of the European Union, one out of five women has experienced sexual and/or physical violence from their partners. On average, two women are murdered daily in Guatemala. In South Africa, Canada, the United States, Israel, and Australia, 40-70% of female murder victims were killed by their intimate partners. More than 50% of all sexual assaults globally were committed to girls below the age of 16. Further on, around 150 million girls below the age of 18 were victims of some form of sexual assault in 2002 alone. 30% of women had their first sexual experience through force. The number is even reportedly higher amongst girls who were below 15 years of age at the time they were initiated to sex whereby 45% of this category reported that their first experience was forced (United Nation, 2017).
130 million girls and women in approximation have undergone through female genital mutilation globally. Still, on global statistics, more than 60 million girls have been forced into marriage before they attain the age of 18 (World Health Organization, 2017). Majority of these marriages are characterized by abuse and violence. They are always in the likelihood of being beaten if not threatened. Out of the estimated 800000 people trafficked across the boundaries of various nations globally, women and girls account for 80% with 79% being trafficked to be sexual purposes. 40-50% of women dwelling in nations within the European Union are victims of unwanted physical contact, sexual advances or other forms of sexual aggravations while in their lines of work. Women are also constantly the targets of rapists and more so in the context of conflicts.
There are various components that constitute a safe community for women. First, it is a place where no form of violence is exercised targeting girls or women whether at home or in the streets or other surroundings (Ceccato, 2015). It is also a place where women can enjoy free space in the public and a comfortable public life without the fear of being violated or assaulted. In a safe community, women are always participants of decision making processes when issues that affect the community which they are living in are being deliberated. Further, no form of discrimination exists against women who are living in a safe community. As a result, they are always guaranteed of their political, cultural as a well as social rights. A safe community also guarantees the rights of all other members without excluding girls and women. Also, local and national governments in safe communities take necessary actions to provide punishment, attention, and prevention for any case of violence against girls and women. Lastly, it is a place where access to justice for women and girls is guaranteed by both the local and federal governments (Whitzman, 2013).
Rape
Rape is a sexual assault involving penetration into the female reproductive organ, anal or orally no matter how slight, without consent (Horvath & Brown, 2013). Rape could be by use of any body part or object whatsoever. There are various types of rapes. Diminished capacity rape is committed when a male person uses force to sexually penetrate a woman or girl who has not consented to the sexual act. Women with diminished capacity cannot consent to sexual acts due to limitations in intellectual or physical abilities. Diminished capacity rape also occurs when the victim cannot consent to sexual acts as a result of intoxication. Age-related rape is another type of rape that is also referred to statutory rape by both federal and state laws. Here, it involves indulging in sexual acts with girls below the minimum age and is considered illegal. Incest is another type of rape that occurs when a male individual forces a woman or girl closely related to him by blood into sexual acts. Partner rape occurs when a male partner forces his female intimate counterpart into sexual acts without the consent of the woman or girl (Horvath & Brown, 2013). Lastly, aggravated rape involves forcing a woman or girl into sexual acts using physical coercion and threats of serious harm or death.
Obstetric violence refers to any acts whether physical or psychological during labor and birth (Edozien & O’Brien, 2017). In developed nations as well as developing countries, labor and birth mostly occur in environments that are highly medicalized. Subsequently, there are numerous surgical interventions that women on delivery can be forced to accept or are done without their consent, some of which could be even unnecessary. The World Health Organization states that there should always be a valid reason to necessitate interference with the normal delivery process, a reason that if not performed the lives of both the mother and the newborn will be at risk.
The World Health Organization defines female genital mutilation as any procedure that entails partial or complete eradication of outer female genital. It could also be any other type of injury imparted on the genital organs of women and girls for non-medical purposes (Mottin-Sylla & Palmieri, 2011). WHO further states that the procedure usually has no health advantage on women. FGM could result in severe bleeding, difficulties when urinating, infertility, in addition to complications during childbirth. Consequently, FGM has been reported to be a key contributor to newborn deaths. Internationally, it is recognized as a violation of the rights of women and girls.
It is a common phenomenon for law enforcement agencies as well as peacekeeping forces to violate women and girls while in their line of work (Romito & Patrizia, 2008). In such situations, the victims have nowhere to report the occurrence of such abuse mostly due to fear of the abuser who is always in power. Many women and girls have reported endless incidences where police officers forced their way into the women’s houses without the consent of the victims. A large number of these forced entries usually end up as sexual assault cases. It has also been constantly reported that military officers have violated women as well as sexually assaulting them while in various peacekeeping missions. These acts always have negative physical and psychological impacts on women and girls and in many cases causing fear and reduced quality of life.
Refugee and immigrant women are always highly vulnerable to all forms of violence. Violence against this party could be either in the private sphere where they are violated by family members or their partners; or in the public domain where they are violated by stranger, police, military personnel and/or other authorities (Kury & Redo, 2018). Lack of knowledge in the local languages, lack of understanding of the laws of the nation they are in, and sometimes fear of deportation are some of the factors that increase the vulnerability of refugee and immigrant women to violence. Women running away from hostile conflicts in their mother nations always go through severe violence on their way to destination countries and even when they arrive there.
There are various factors at the relationship, individual, societal as well as community level that fuel the vulnerability of women and girls to violence. First, experiencing or witnessing abuse during childhood increases the possibility of boys growing into perpetrators of violence in the future, and girls experiencing or giving in to violence. Drugs and substance abuse, including alcohol consumption, is also linked directly to increased cases of violence against women and girls (Brownridge, 2009). Women and girls being members of excluded or marginalized group is another risk factor making such individuals more vulnerable. Illiteracy is also a driving factor for boys to become perpetrators of violence and girls to experience violence in the future. The scarcity of economic opportunities is another factor. This is where underemployed or unemployed men are most likely to become perpetrators of violence while women and girls with a similar challenge are most likely to fall victims of child and forced marriage, domestic abuse, human trafficking, and sexual abuse. Tensions and conflicts among intimate partners in marriages or relationships is another chief driver of violence against women. There are also numerous attitudes and cultural practices that tolerate male violence as well as reinforcing female subordination (World Health Organization, 2002). Such practices include forced and child marriages, bride price, and dowry affairs. There also exists a deficit of safe spaces for girls and women, which could be either virtual or physical, where they will have free communication and expression. It is through these spaces that women and girls can have the opportunity to develop social networks and friendships, seek advice from various supportive parties, and engage with mentors for guidance on day to day affairs.
The Government
The government is the supreme authority of a country should be at the forefront in the fight against the violence of women and girls. First, the government should develop programs aimed at educating citizens on the drawbacks of violence against women and girls. The government should also ensure that strict laws are in place to deal with perpetrators of violence. It should also ensure that there exist channels through which victims of abuse and violence can report freely without any kind of fear (Terry & Hoare, 2007).
Various non-governmental organizations have emerged and given a hand in the quest to end gender-based violence. It is, therefore, the role of such NGOs to ensure that men, women, and girls in certain areas that even the government’s reach is not effective are educated on gender-based violence, its impact and the various ways and reasons of doing away with it (Parkes, 2015).
Men
Men being the key perpetrators of gender-based violence have a crucial role to play when building a safer community. First, they should respect women and view them and their equal human beings. They should acknowledge the fact that it is a traditional and outdated view to see women as sex objects. They should learn to acknowledge women’s and girls’ efforts and make them feel safe and comfortable in society. (Richards & Haglund, 2015)
Women
Women and girls are the main victims of gender-based violence and have therefore important roles to play. It is their duty to report to the relevant authorities any time they are violated on the basis of gender. It is also their role to ensure that they nurture their children and/or siblings while imparting them with adequate knowledge of gender-based violence. (Romito & Patrizia, 2008)
Religious institutions
It is the duty of all religious institutions to condemn and advocate against all forms of gender-based violence. They should also offer guidance on how to solve family conflicts that could result in violence. They should again support victims of gender-based violence with emotional and spiritual guidance to help them heal. (Western, 2013)
There are several strategies that can help eradicate violence against women if followed and supported by all relevant parties. First, existing laws should be enforced and new ones created all with the aim of protecting women from violence and discrimination (Western, 2013). All community members should then be educated on their respective roles as outlined in the national and international humanitarian laws. Peaceful resolution of conflicts should be promoted while simultaneously taking into consideration the perspectives of girls and women regarding the issue at hand. Economic support should be accorded to women to increase their ability to earn a living and thus reduce their dependence on men. This can be achieved by imparting various skills on women and girls through training (Brownridge, 2009). The general public should also be sensitized on the repercussions of early forced child marriages. Women should also be encouraged and supported to vie for political seats by educating the public about how valuable women’s votes are. Lastly, awareness should be created on the various poor living conditions that women and girls face more so in the rural areas and pledge for help in improving the lives of such individuals (Nakray, 2013).
Conclusion
This article aims at building a safer community for women and girls. The most appropriate way of achieving this is by eliminating violence against women and girls. The government, various Non-Governmental Organizations, men, women, and the various law enforcement agencies have been identified as the key stakeholders. Data and statistics on gender-based violence have revealed that women and girls should be protected from the ever-increasing cases of violence that shutter their life-long dreams and reduce the quality of their lives. The constituents of a safe community for women and girls have also been outlined. The article has also brought forth the various forms of violence against women that are common and needs urgent intervention. Further on, factors that increase the vulnerability of women and girls to violence have been documented. The various parties to be involved when building a safer community have been identified and discussed. Lastly, the article contains an inscription of the various strategies that can be implemented to reduce gender-based violence and subsequently achieve a safer community for women and girls.
References
Brownridge, D. A. (2009). Violence Against Women: Vulnerable Populations. Routledge.
Ceccato, V. A. (2015). Rural Crime and Community Safety. Routledge.
Edozien, L. C., & O’Brien, S. P. (2017). Biopsychosocial Factors in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (illustrated ed.). Cambridge University Press.
Horvath, M., & Brown, J. (2013). Rape: Challenging Contemporary Thinking. Routledge.
Kury, H., & Redo, S. (2018). Refugees and Migrants in Law and Policy: Challenges and Opportunities for Global Civic Education. Springer.
Mottin-Sylla, M.-H., & Palmieri, J. (2011). Confronting Female Genital Mutilation: The Role of Youth and ICTs in Changing Africa (illustrated ed.). IDRC.
Nakray, K. (2013). Gender-based Violence and Public Health: International Perspectives on Budgets and Policies (illustrated ed.). Routledge.
Parkes, J. (2015). Gender Violence in Poverty Contexts: The educational challenge (illustrated ed.). Routledge.
Richards, D. L., & Haglund, J. (2015). Violence Against Women and the Law. Routledge.
Romito, R., & Patrizia, S. (2008). A Deafening Silence: Hidden Violence Against Women and Children. Policy Press.
Terry, G., & Hoare, J. (2007). Gender-based Violence. Oxfam.
United Nation. (2017). United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women. Retrieved from UN WOMEN: https://www.endvawnow.org/en/articles/299-fast-facts-statistics-on-violence-against-women-and-girls-.html
Western, D. (2013). Gender-based Violence and Depression in Women: A Feminist Group Work Response (illustrated ed.). Springer Science & Business Media.
Whitzman, C. (2013). Building Inclusive Cities: Women’s Safety and the Right to the City (illustrated ed.). Routledge.
World Health Organization. (2002). World Report on Violence and Health, Volume 1 (illustrated ed.). World Health Organization.
World Health Organization. (2017, November 29). Violence against women. Retrieved from World health organization: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/violence-against-women
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