Do you know that the defense of women’s rights is crucial so far? Do you know how many women are subjected to violence around the world?

Violence against women is a global matter, which has existed and has been rooted in the past, and continues to this day. So far, until the time of writing of this article, at least one or numerous girls are subjected to one of the violence types . If we do not raise our voice, demand women’s rights, and seek equality, violence will continue and may become more dangerous and widespread.

“There is one universal truth, applicable to all countries, cultures, and communities: violence against women is never acceptable, never excusable, never tolerable.”
– Ban Ki-moon, Former United Nations Secretary-General, 2008. [1]

Estimates published by WHO indicate that globally about 1 in 3 women worldwide have been subjected to either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner in their lifetime. [2]

Violence Against Women

The United Nations defines violence against women as “any act of gender-based violence that results in or is likely to result in, physical, sexual, or mental harm or suffering to women, which may occur in public or private life.” [2]

As a result, the terms Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) originated. “GBV” refers to harmful acts directed at an individual or a group of individuals based on their gender. It is mainly caused by gender inequality, stereotypes or norms, and roles in every society. While women and girls suffer greatly from GBV, men and boys can also be targeted.

Whereas, “VAWG” is defined as any act of gender-based violence that results in harm or suffering to women and girls in particular. [3]

Types and Forms of Violence Against Women

As mentioned, violence is embodied in many ways; and several types of it may overlap or exist together. Forms of violence against women:

• First: domestic violence, also called domestic abuse or intimate partner violence, is one of the most common forms of violence globally. The murder rate of women committed by their partners is 38% globally, while the rate of sexual assault by someone other than a partner is 6%. [2]

The primary goal of domestic violence is to gain or maintain power and control over a partner. It includes economic violence such as maintaining total control over financial resources and withholding access to money. Psychological and Emotional Violence such as insults, mind games, and psychological pressure. Physical and Sexual Violence such as hitting or using physical force to harm a partner and forcing them to take part in a sex act. [3]

There are often previous indications in the partner’s behavior and an escalation in violence and love of control.

• Second: femicide; refers to the intentional murder of women because they are women, and it differs from male homicide mainly in that most cases of femicide are committed by partners or ex-partners or anyone the victim knows. It is often preceded by abuses in the home or persistent death threats. [3]

A female may be killed by a member of her family or her husband’s family to erase the “dishonor” or “shame” she has brought, which is known as an Honour Killing. In addition, human trafficking, female genital mutilation, child marriage, and many others fall under the heading of violence against women.

Violence Impact on women and children

Violence to which a woman is subjected has grave consequences even after she survives it. It also has dire consequences for children which may be short- and long-term, whether they are subjected to violence by their mothers or they are just witnesses to the violence. Some of the effects of violence on women:

• Possible depression and anxiety disorders sleep difficulties, and thoughts of self-harm or suicide attempts.
• Unintended pregnancies, abortions, and sexually transmitted infections.
• Health effects can also include headaches, back pain and chronic pelvic pain syndromes, and gastrointestinal disorders
• Children who grow up in families where there is violence may suffer a range of behavioral and emotional disturbances. They may tend to use violence and force to achieve anything later in life. [2]

Also read: Women’s Employment.

RESPECT Women; a framework for preventing violence against women

With the aim of preventing violence against women, in 2019 WHO and UN Women with endorsement from 12 other UN and bilateral agencies published RESPECT women – a framework for preventing violence against women aimed at policymakers. Each letter of RESPECT stands for one of seven strategies:

R- Relationship skills strengthening.

E- Empowerment of women.

S- Services ensured.

P- Poverty reduced.

E- Enabling environments (schools, workplaces, public spaces) created.

C-Child and adolescent abuse prevented.

T- Transformed attitudes, beliefs, and norms.

Examples of promising interventions

1. First: Psychosocial support and psychological interventions for survivors of intimate partner violence; in addition to combined economic and social empowerment programs.
2. Second: Working with couples to improve communication and relationship skills, and participatory education with women and men to generate critical reflections about unequal gender power relationships.
3. Third: Community mobilization interventions to change unequal gender norms.
4. Fourth: School programs that enhance safety in schools and reduce/eliminate harsh punishment and include curricula that challenge gender stereotypes and promote relationships based on equality. [2]

In conclusion, we would like to mention that Situations of humanitarian crises and displacement may exacerbate violence rates. For example, cases of domestic violence have risen since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. [2]

In Syria, according to UNICEF, the rate of child marriage was 13% before the war, and in 2019 the United Nations Anti-Violence Program showed that this percentage rose to 46%. Despite the lack of reports, the suffering and exposure of Syrian women to violence in its various forms is constantly increasing. [4]

Neither “habits” nor “stereotypes” allow what is wrong to become true.  Murder is a crime. Violence is a crime. Bullying is a crime. Silence and non-interference are wrong. Not to help is wrong. Nowadays, many women are beaten, abused and killed. So let’s work to protect and support women. Let us strengthen and encourage women. Because they are human above all else, like you and us, and certainly they have their rights. 

Women’s rights are human rights. As an initiative that focuses on the advancement of women in general, especially Syrian Women, we would like to let you know that we exist. We will not stop until you are treated equally. So cheer up, get up and try. Do not give up!

♀️ Uplifting Syrian Women Initiative aims at sustainable peace building in Syria through targeting women and providing them with free online courses, workshops, discussion sessions and trainings, with a view to achieving the goals of Gender Equality, Quality Education and Decent Work and Economic Growth, which all fall into the interest of society as a whole and serve the purpose of rebuilding it.

References:

[1] WHO PDF

[2] WHO

[3] UNWomen

[4] Suwar