When President Jacob Zuma announced the 2015 campaign of 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, he called on us to move a non-violent South Africa forward, which is in line with this year’s theme (Count me in: together moving a non-violent South Africa forward).
We can only hope that this year’s campaign will bear fruit so that we can indeed see less violence and fewer rapes in our country. Let’s heed the call to say no to violence, to abuse, to bullying of women and children. Let’s report incidents of violence when they take place in our communities. Together let us work for a society where we no longer read or hear about the abuse that women and children often suffer at the hands of heartless perpetrators.
According to the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, violence against women is a worldwide phenomenon with deep-seated roots in civilisation as it has developed over time.
Even where and when countries have laws and other mechanisms available to discourage violence against women and children, the following causes and conditions enable continuation of the violence:
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- Women often being members of marginalised or excluded groups
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- Low levels of education
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- Limited economic opportunities, leading to domestic abuse, pregnancy in order to obtain child grants, child and forced marriage, sexual exploitation and trafficking
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- Presence of economic, educational and employment disparities between men and women in an intimate relationship
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- Conflict and tension within an intimate partner relationship or marriage
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- Women’s insecure access to and control over property and land rights
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- Male control over decision-making and assets
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- Attitudes and practices that reinforce female subordination and tolerate male violence, such as lobola, dowry, child marriage
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- Lack of safe spaces for women and girls that allow free expression and communication; a place to develop friendships and social networks, engage with mentors and seek advice from a supportive environment
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- Normalised use of violence within the family or society to address conflict.
Violence against women and children is a complex social, economic and cultural phenomenon and until women are recognised as equal to men in every regard and given the opportunity to live as equals, the violence will probably not decrease. This fact should encourage us to help improve the circumstances of women and children on a broad front.
Malala Yousafzia, 16-year-old Pakistani and the youngest Nobel Peace Prize recipient, said: “I speak not for myself but for those without voice … those who have fought for their rights … their right to live in peace, their right to be treated with dignity, their right to equality of opportunity, their right to be educated.”
In her country, Malala almost paid the highest price for expressing her views. How far are we willing to go to end the violence against women and children?
Sources
http://allafrica.com
http://www.refinery29.com
http://www.endvawnow.org