ELIMINATION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

Painting: Nubia by Horacio Cardozo

(Note To The United Nations General Assembly)

Violence Against Women is any act of gender-based violence causing harm or suffering to women or girls. Violence Against Women is a violation of human rights and it's a dangerous offence punishable by law. There are different types of Violence Against Women which are physical violence, sexual violence, emotional violence, economic violence and psychological violence. In eliminating Violence Against Women in our society, the preventive measures against the causes of any form of violence against women or girls must be implemented and enforced by parents and every institutions in the society.

Most girls and women are vulnerable to violence in the society because of poverty. Bad economy results to mass poverty and it poorly affects the lives of many people (most especially women). Government should be economically constructive about the lives of women, by providing financial empowerment to poor women. Government should also provide social infrastructures that would be helpful to the welfare of women and girls. Accessible opportunities of free quality education for young girls and sustainable job employment for women should also be made possible by the government. Education and employment enables women to become financially-independent and can be very useful in eliminating violence against women.

Girl child is as important as boy child and are to be treated as equals. Moral education is primarily important to train a child responsibly and it should be a disciplinary call for every parent to train their children responsibly with good character and noble lifestyle. A child that's responsibly trained wouldn't become a bully to others. Most women experience violence from young age as a result of being the victim to a violent man who isn't responsibly trained by good parents or guardians. Every parent should act as moral teacher in teaching every child against the maltreatment of anyone. Moral education in homes, schools and every places would help eliminate violence against women.

In our modern society, fear is a weapon of mass-control, while women are the ones majorly at risk of threats and intimidations caused by fear. Many circumstances of life often put women at risk and which in most cases results into violence against oneself. Examples of such violence against women include suicidal attempt, physical harm to self, destruction of personal property, drug or alcohol abuse, unconscious state of mind and personal isolation from friends or families. Psychological violence experienced by women can be life-threatening and often leads to untimely death. Women and girls should be positively encouraged at all times by friends or families and government should also include “Psychological Counselling Programme” in the health sector, so as to rehabilitate and prevent against psychological violence.

Women experience emotional and sexual violence through gender-based relationships. In both friendship and marriage, women suffer domestic violence of physical abuse, betrayal, self-worth humiliation, character abuse, verbal abuse, emotional jeopardy, sexual maltreatment, sexual harassment and rape. Domestic violence is a pandemic affecting almost every gender-based relationships and as a major violence against women, it can be prevented and stopped through the total elimination of economic, physical and psychological violences.

21st century exposes women to digital violence on the internet. Online or digital violence against women is committed by the use of information and communication technology against a woman because she is a woman. Online violence against women include cyber-bullying, non-consensual sexting and doxing. Strict and disciplinary regulations against online violence should be implemented and enforced on the internet. Protection of women's human rights should also be ensured online authoritatively.

The elimination of violence against women requires the health sector to act most importantly in ensuring that every preventive measures are considered and utilized. The health sector should advocate to make violence against women unacceptable and for such violence to be addressed as a public health problem.

The health sector should provide comprehensive services, sensitized and train healthcare providers in responding to the needs of the survivors of violence against women. The health sector should prevent recurrence of violence against women through early identification of women and girls who are experiencing violence silently and they should be provided with adequate support and paramedical attention.

Government should change social norms related to the acceptability of violence and the subordination of women. There should be an implementation of law promoting non-violent masculinities oriented towards gender equality and respect of women's human rights. Government agencies should disciplinary address child abuse and promote healthy families and violence-free environments for children. There should be an outreach for the sexuality of every girl child and boy child through which the government can promote healthy sexuality in children and prevent against forceful sexual entitlement and sexual violence perpetration.

Government agencies and health sectors should work with communities to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls, and create long-term change for good. Government should fund women's groups and networks across the world, who train parents, teachers, local police and legal advisers to recognize the signs of violence and to report it. Government institutions should teach girls about their rights and help them build confidence. Government should also support women and girls to earn sustainable livelihoods, so they can afford life's necessities without being exploited. Because when women and girls know and claim their rights, their courage and resilience is astonishing.

Almost on every level, most of us participate in the modern culture that supports and encourages violence against women and girls. We should all teach and encourage the good habits against violence. We should educate ourselves on violence against women. We should believe and support the survivors of violence against women. We should contact our local legislators and political leaders and advocate for tougher laws against perpetrators of violence against women. We should contact the local school board and ask them to address sexual harassment in schools. We should always speak out against all forms of violence. We should respect gender-equality and embrace diversity. We should speak out against the media’s portrayal of violence. We should ask permission before pursuing physical or sexual contact with someone. We should teach young children that respect is the minimum in a relationship and we should lead by good example. We should advocate for violence against women victim’s rights. We should avoid committing, supporting or encouraging sexual harassment by speaking up when we see or hear it. We should speak out against racist, sexist or homophobic jokes. We should advocate for more youth violence prevention programs. We should encourage others to speak out against sexual violence. We should avoid listening to music or watching of films that glorifies sexual violence and the objectification of women and girls. We should applaud others who speak out against violence and oppression. We should pledge to never commit or condone acts of violence. We should avoid alcohol or drug abuse and we should also stop others from taking advantage of someone who is intoxicated. We should encourage our local college and universities to offer prevention education to students. We should hold perpetrators accountable for disrespecting their partners whenever we see it or hear it. We should engage others in discussions about violence against women. We should always report to authority whenever we witness sexual harassment in our schools or workplace. We should post Violence Against Women awareness materials in public and private places for easy & confidential accessibility. We should campaign and spread the message against violence.

By EMPEROR ALAFIA ॐ

Copyright: © NOVEMBER, 2021