Introduction
Justice and gender equality are important aspects of the totality of mankind that measure social and economic development in the world. After the end of the cold war and increased globalization, the world embarked on efforts to show an admirable and respectable level of consideration for human rights. However, global injustice and gender inequality are still a thorn in the wound all over the world. Women are, particularly, the greatest victim of global injustice and gender discrimination.
Women abuse and violence is the greatest human right insensitivity and scandal of our times. Gender-based violence seems to be a historically and culturally specific value and standard upheld in many communities. It is reported that in Russia 14,000 women are killed by their husbands as a result of violence against women. (Cited in Ever and Buzawa 2002) This is wrong and a crime against humanity that must stop. Governments have failed to establish political and social institutions thereby fostering women’s subservience and violence against them. Consequently, women have continued to suffer due to the existence of these barbaric customs. Over the world, women have persistently nursed the wounds of female circumcisions, honor crime, rape, incest, ironic attachment to virginity, domestic violence among others.
Domestic violence
Domestic violence is acknowledged universally, as an attempt by partners to physically or psychologically exercise excessive dominance on another. In most cases, its occurrence is quite evident among spouses. In the United State of America, it has been reported that 20 percent of all crimes experienced by women are cases of intimate partners. This is far above the statistic of 3 percent of violent crime experienced by men. (Cited in Eman and Hina, 2004) However, it is not only spouses that are a participant in this ‘barbaric game’ in the household. It is widely believed that domestic violence also affects children, cohabitants, and friends. In some instances, they are the driving engine that brews violence in the household.
Domestic violence manifests itself in various forms. All over the world, physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, intimidation, and economic deprivation have been recorded. These forms of abuse are rapidly increasing in the world. Surprisingly, many of these incidences go without being reported, and at times unnoticed since history and culture have defined such acts as normal and right.
Honor killing
Honor killing is the act of terminating a woman’s life as a result of having sexual contact with a man. This is most cases is done through stoning her to death. It majorly happens in the Arabic continent. The cultural justification is to maintain the dignity and seniority framework of the family. This is completely immoral and therefore unacceptable. Both of them should be made to pay for their action. Punishing women only is unethical and therefore encourages the men to perpetuate sexual immorality within the community. This is because the law will always protect them from being subjected to punishment. (Cited in Welchman, 2005)
The killing of women based on the honor of the family is a crime committed by a man against a woman who is very closely related to him. The motive for this crime as defined by traditional factors is defending the honor of the family. But the behavior itself that harms the honor is illegal sexual contact that brings shame to the family, as defined by the traditions of the community. (A. Khader, 1999) It is reported that in Russia 14000 women are killed by their husbands as a result of violence against women. This is wrong and a crime against humanity that must stop.
Attributes
Domestic violence and honor killing, over the recent past, have been attributed to numerous factors. In most societies in the world, cultural values always put preference on the male personality. In the Asian continent, women’s discrimination is as old as the history of the country. The fact that many communities do accept bride prices in form of cows as a cultural fulfillment, women have continued to be visualized as properties other than human beings who deserve equal consideration in society. A study of domestic violence in Pakistan revealed that “The concepts of women as property and honor are so deeply entrenched in the social, political and economic fabric of Pakistan that the government, for the most part, ignores the daily occurrences of women being killed and maimed by their families.”(Quoted in Adam, 2004)
Another attribute that has contributed to increased violence against women is illiteracy. It has been documented that a greater percentage of women are illiterate. This minimizes the level of exposure of women on the basic individual rights that they need to enjoy as human beings. In many countries, the right to access to basic education has been enshrined in the constitution. However, due to increased economic phenomena, the government, in most cases, is not in a position to satisfy this commitment. This combined with cultural consideration thus intensifies the level of gender inequality. Ellen (1989,p,78 ) shares the same view that “ She must be educated to want a better home, better furnishings, better food, better water supplies, etc. and if she wants them she will want…”
Women are greatly marginalized all over the world. The systems and the structures in most of the world do not recognize their fundamental right to access and ownership of property. With this regard, a larger percentage of women languish in the miasmas of poverty. This has made them submissive to injustices expressed on them by their male counterparts. For instance, Arabic women have no legal right to land ownership. This lack of ability to access one of the collateral documents, that is required to secure a loan from a bank, greatly compromises women’s right to actively involve themselves in development processes. These injustices must be corrected for them to compete at the same level as men. (Watson, 2005)
Responsibility and effects
Parliament has the responsibility to formulate legislations that protect the interest of their subjects. The world will agree with me that most of our houses of legislation are dominated by men. This, in most cases, has seen issues affecting the women kept at the back. The legislation enacted still reflects the cultural and historical connotations that perceived women as minor personalities. These laws are always partial, gender bias and discriminatory. In Morocco, Article 418 of the penal code states that “Murder, injury, and beating are excusable if they are committed by a husband on his wife as well as the accomplice at the moment in which he surprises them in the act of adultery.” The absences of proper legislation perpetuate violence against women.. (Eman and Hina 2004)
The effects of domestic violence and honor killing can not be underestimated at all costs. Women have continued to experience psychological trauma. Men have all the years continued to act harshly against their women. This emotional abuse of women has seen them deeply depressed and therefore lack joy in life. In the United State of America, Peru, India, Bangladesh and Sri-Lanka, the chances of an abused woman to commit suicide, stands at the rate of 12 times higher than a woman who has not been abused. In the United State of America, as many as 35-40 percent of battered women attempt suicide. (UNICEF 1999) This is quite alarming and therefore needs urgent redress.
Sexual abuse and rape by an intimate partner are never considered by many women as a crime against human rights. The assumption is that being in a relationship, and then the partner is entitled to limitless sex. UNICEF 1999, reports that about 10-15 percent of the victims of sexual abuse are committed by intimate partners. This has a great negative impact on the social well-being of women since it infringes on their right to self-respect and dignity.
A growing level of research studies in the world has confirmed that physical violence is on its toll and mitigation measures need to be put in place. Women have continued to be battered physically despite an increased awareness creation concerning abuse on women and girls. Global physical violence statistic is documented at a range of 20-50 percent occurrence preference. Many women do sustain physical injuries due to this malicious act of men on women. According to Human Resource Library, on October 28, 2005, domestic violence affects more than 32 million Americans each year; with more than 2 million injuries and claims approximately 1300 deaths. This type of violence includes physical, sexual, or psychological harm to another by a current or former partner or spouse. This is accompanied by huge economic loss since much of the financial gains are allocated to nursing wounds that arise from violence against women.
Conclusion
Domestic violence and honor killing is a violation of human basic rights and therefore should be condemned strongly by individuals and the world at large. There is need to also to establish institutions and enact legislation to protect the right of women. Investment in education will greatly help as it will inform and create awareness of women’s rights and freedom. This will end the culture of impunity against women. The role of the United Nation, NGOs, CEDAW, and women movements are instrumental as they form a lobby team that will champion the necessary reforms. They are also mandated with the responsibility of creating awareness. Governments who have not adopted the human rights amnesty international “stop global violence against women” campaign should waste no time but embrace it immediately. (Quoted in Ruddle, 1992)
References
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Kathleen M (2004), Family Violence in a Cultural Perspective; Defining, Understanding and Combating Abuse, Sage.
Karin Swisher (1996), Domestic Violence, Green have Press.
Pickup et al (2001) Ending Violence against Women, A Challenge for Development and Humanitarian; Work Oxfam GB.
Ruddle, Helen (1992) ‘Breaking the Silence’ Violence in the Home: The Women’s Perspective Dublin; Mid –Western Health Board.
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Welchman Lynn and Sara Hossain (2005) ‘Honour’ Crimes, Paradigms and Violence against Women Austrailia; Spinifex Press.
UNICEF (1999), Women in Transition, Regional Monitoring Report,No.6 Florence Uncef International Child Development Centre.