END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

Dec 03, 2016 Editorial, Features / Columnists

Last November 25, Guyana joined the rest of the world to commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. This observation was launched on December 17, 1999 by the United Nations General Assembly in honour of and tribute to the three Mirabal Sisters and activists, Patricia, Maria and Antonia, who it was alleged were brutally assassinated in the Dominican Republic on November 25, 1960 by operatives of the Rafael Trujillo government.
November 25 is to support survivors of domestic and sexual violence and to raise public awareness of violence against women which is a violation of human rights.
Women around the world have joined with governments and organizations to mark the occasion with 16 days of Activism (November 25 through December 10) to highlight violence against women and gender bias under the theme “Orange the World: Raise Money to End Violence against Women and Girls.”
The goal is to educate the public and galvanize international support and action to end the pandemic of violence against women. It is also to remind governments and the public of their obligations and responsibility to ensure that every woman and every girl in every country live in a society free of violence and fear. This is their fundamental right.
In Guyana men should heed this advice because physical, sexual and emotional violence against women has become an epidemic. It has been this way for some time and it seems that there is no end to this scourge. It is a consequence of discrimination against women not only by men but also in law and in practice. There are, too, the persisting inequalities between men and women. Some men believe that women are the property of men and it is their inherent right and entitlement to abuse them. Guyana like many other countries, including the United States, are male chauvinistic societies.
It is a very grim situation. In every country, one out of three women are either beaten, abused, assaulted, tortured, raped, trafficked or sexually exploited. Globally, 47 percent of murders of women are committed by a partner, compared to less than six percent of murders of men. Fifty percent of the victims of forced labour are women and 98 percent of women are the casualties of sexual exploitation.
According to the United Nations, about 70 percent of women will experience violence in their lifetimes. And those between the ages of 15 and 44 years are more at risk of being raped and beaten my men than to have cancer or be involved in car accidents or being infected with malaria.
Despite a lack of data, this seems to be true for Guyana based on media reports of violence against women.
Studies have shown that when women are free from violence and have the power to make their own choices, poverty can be reduced, families and communities grow stronger, peaceful and secure, children are better protected and their chances of a better education and a good life become more viable, societal values flourish and opportunities for civic and political engagement based on inclusivity are increased.
Therefore, ending violence against women is not only a legal obligation and a moral imperative, but also a sound investment. This is true for all countries; yet, women still face multiple forms of discrimination and are undervalued and underutilized, violated and sexually and physically abused by men.
The government must demonstrate that it would no longer tolerate violence against women and girls in homes, at work and in public spaces. The government must also ensure that all necessary resources are deployed and investments made to secure an “Orange World” and a future free from violence against women and girls.
It is our inescapable duty to end violence against women.

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